JAGANNATH RATH YATRA

About: 

• Location: Ratha Yatra is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in Odisha.
  
  
• Origin: It is regarded as the oldest Ratha Yatra taking place in India whose descriptions can be found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Skanda Purana and Kapila Samhita.
  
  
• When: This annual festival is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashadha month).
  
  
• Objective: The festival commemorates Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (aunt's home) near Balagandi Chaka, Puri.
  
  
• Festival highlights:
  • As part of Ratha Yatra, the deities of Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra are taken out in a procession to Gundicha Temple, which is situated at a distance of 2-3 km from their temple.
    
    
  • The deities remain there for nine days.
    
    
  • Then the deities or Ratha Yatra return to the Main temple. The return journey of Puri Jagannath Ratha Jatra is known as Bahuda Jatra.
    
    
  • Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled by devotees through the streets of Puri who consider this as an auspicious deed.