Rath Yatra

Ratha Yatra is a major Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during the months of June or July (Rainy Season). Most of the city's society is based around the worship of Jagannath (Krishna) with the ancient temple being the fulcrum of the area. The festival commemorates Krishna's return to his home in Vrindavan after a long period of separation from the people there.

The festival

Usually the deities - Jagannath (Krishna), Baladeva and Subhadra are worshipped within the temple, but on the day of the Rath festival they are taken through the streets so that everyone can have the fortune of seeing them. Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra to their aunt' s temple (Gundicha Mandir) which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. New chariots are built every year. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over India go to Puri with an earnest desire to touch the rope of the chariot. They consider this a pious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Rath carts themselves are some approximately convert|45|ft|m high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event. Millions of devotees congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad. It is also telecasted live on many Indian channels.

Etymology

Rath Yatra consists of two words: "rath", meaning a chariot; and "yatra", which means a pilgrimage, a journey or a procession. Accordingly, "rath yatra" describes a procession of chariots, generally drawn by horses. Vedic scripture speaks of "Rath" in various contexts, and in the epic wars of the Mahabarath, "Rathas" formed a major means of movement of warriors. There were many famous "Rath Yatras" in Hindu legend.

The English word "juggernaut" originates from the Jaganath Rath Yatra.

International Ratha Yatras

The Ratha Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement. Its leader A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada successfully transplanted the festival which now happens on an annual basis in places all over the world in over 100 cities including London, Montreal, Paris, New York, Toronto, and Venice, CA. [ [http://www.festivalofindia.org/ Festival of India] ]

ee also

*Jagannath
*Jagannath Temple
*Puri
*Hare Krishna
*Gaudiya Vaishnavism

References

External links

* [http://rathjatra.nic.in/about.htm Ratha Yatra Festival]
* [http://www.swaminarayan.org/festivals/rathyatra/ Rath Yatra festival]
* [http://purionline.com/puri/temple_ratha_yatra.htm Ratha Yatra PURI]
* [http://www.rathayatra.co.uk/ Ratha Yatra UK]
* [http://www.when-is.com/rath-yatra.asp When is Rath Yatra? Dates of Rath Yatra until 2010]
* [http://india-outside-my-window.blogspot.com/2007/07/rath-yatra-in-puri.html The Rath Yatra in Puri]
* [http://www.iskcon.ca/rathayatra/festivalOfIndia.html Rath Yatra in Toronto, every year for over 36 years]