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Friday 11 April 2014

Jagan Nath Puri Rath Yatra


Day 10 -  A to Z challenge of words. Today's topic is Jagan Nath Puri Rath Yatra





















This  festival is celebrated in Puri, Odissa every year in the Jagan Nath  Temple. It is also known as the Car Festival or the Yatra. It is  one of the largest attended  festival. People from all over the world throng  together to participate in this Yatra. It is estimated that one million pilgrims assemble here every year, from India and abroad. 
The festival commemorates  the annual visit  of the presiding deity of the temple, Lord Jagan Nath, accompanied by his brother, Balabhadra and sister, Subhadra  to their aunt, Gundicha Mata’s Temple and return via  Mausi Maa Temple. They are taken in a huge procession. They remain in Gundicha temple for nine days.
The chariots, in which they travel a distance of two kilometres, are richly decorated. They are about 45 feet in height. The chariots are pulled by millions  of worshipers who congregate from within the country and all over the world, along with the help of temple priests to the accompaniment of devotional songs ,trumpets drums and other instruments. There are innumerable crowds waiting to pull the chariots. It is considered very auspicious, even  if  one gets a chance to touch the chariot, or any other part of the chariot. 
The Raths(chariots) are built afresh every year with a special type of wood!   



                                         

34 comments:

  1. Dear Ushaji, Thanks for taking us this festival tour of India.. This is really wonderful.

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  2. Wow, this is something I never witnessed. I am glad to know about it!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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  3. something i didnt know of! thanks for sharing maam :)

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.in/2014/04/j-for-jealousy.html?m=1
    a-z participant

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  4. This sounds like an amazing event. The huge crowds would make it hard to see everything, but the sense of community is inspiring.

    M. J. Joachim

    A to Z Challenge Co-Host
    Writing Tips
    Effectively Human
    Lots of Crochet Stitches




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    1. It is really amazing. But it is a beautiful sight. Thanks a lot for stopping by.

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  5. WOW, I bet that is really something to see! ♥

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    1. Thanks Kathy. Yes it is a great spectacle.

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  6. Nice choice for the letter J. I have been to Puri, but not at the Rath Yatra time. I can imagine the crowds there for the Yatra, have seen one such yatra in a southern town here, amazing experience!

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal




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    1. Thanks Beloo. In South such yatras are quite common.

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  7. I have seen it on TV, and am mesmerized by the procession ... truly, a divine festival :-)

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    1. Thanks Amrit. Yes this festival is really unique.

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  8. I have heard about it ,....even seen on tv but never seen it first hand...another wonderful facet of India showcased by you so wonderfully

    Latest A2Z Challenge Post-Random Thoughts Naba

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  9. I congratulate you for having chosen Jagannath temple and the famous rat yatra as the theme for J

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    1. Thank you KP for your inspiring comments.

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  10. Wish I could see this in real. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. It is a treat for the eyes. Thanks Rajlakshmi.

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  11. Have seen this Rath Yatra on TV many years ago. I have heard that those who take part in this yatra earn their passage to the Heave and that daily 88 types of Bhog are prepared in different phases! :)

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    1. Yes Shilpa It is considered divine.Thanks a lot,

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  12. i have been racking my head as to what today could be!!! and this is indeed one of the greatest rath yatras in our country!!

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    1. Yes Titli it is the greatest yatra. Thanks for participation in this series of festivals.

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  13. Have heard so much about this Yatra. I hope I can manage all this in my lifetime . Thank you Usha madam for this lovely description!

    http://momdiary.blogspot.in/2014/04/fun-and-learning-with-letters.html

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    1. Thank you Shailaja for being a participant in all the festivals.

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  14. Ma'm I am glad you choose Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra for J . My native is in Puri and I feel so happy to read about it from your point of view . It's indeed a beautiful and mesmerizing experience for devotees to see lord and get the chance to be near him . It's like a big celebration going all around the town of Puri and everyone knowingly or unknowingly becomes a part of it :)

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    1. Thank you Doctor. You are fortunate to be born in this holy city. God is kind to you.

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  15. This post brings back memories of the TV telecast we used to watch of this Rath Yatra with my grandparents...

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    1. Thank you Reshma. The memory of this yatra will always be etched in some part of your mind.

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  16. We have a jagannath temple in Banjara hills, hyderabad. It replicates the puja timings and follows the same rituals as in Puri. They conduct the Rath yatra here at the same time. This temple at Banjara hills is so similar in construsction to the one at puri. There are beautiful murals here.

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    1. Thanks Asha for sharing this information. You are fortunate to be able to participate in the yatra.

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