Rath Yatra 2023

Rath Yatra is an annual Hindu festival celebrated between June and July. As per the Hindu calendar, the festival takes place on the 2nd day of Shukla Pakshya of Asadh month. Rath Yatra is mainly celebrated at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, where the festivities go on for nine days. The Jagannath Temple, which is one of the holiest places for Hindus, is devoted to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped during Rath Yatra every year. 

Rath Yatra is one of Indian oldest and biggest chariot festivals. During Rath Yatra, the deities Jagannath or Lord Krishna, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are taken to the Gundicha Temple from the Jagannath Temple in three huge chariots. They stay there for a week, after which they are brought back to the Jagannath temple. While returning, the deities stop near the Mausi Maa temple for a while, which is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini. 

Huge crowds gather on the streets to see the chariots and the deities. The chariots are heavily decorated and pulled by ropes made of coconut fibre.  Each chariot has its name. Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called Garudadahwaja or Kapiladhwaja. The chariot of Balabhadra is called Langaladhwaja or Taladhwaja and that of Subhadra is called Darpadalana or Devadalana.  

The celebration of the Rath Yatra is not only limited to India. The festival is celebrated internationally across 108 cities including Rome, London, Dublin, Sydney and others. Many people gather around the processions and participate in the celebration.