NB In List | 9 Important Facts about Rath Yatra

Rath Yatra, the festival of chariots, commences in Odisha's Puri today. The famous festival, usually celebrated in June-July, begins when Bhagwan Jagannath and his two siblings - elder brother Bhagwan Balabhadra and younger sister Devi Subhadra are ready to give darshan to the public in Raths and visit Gundicha Temple.

So, here are a few important facts about Rath Yatra, every Hindu must know-

Rath Yatra is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Odisha, on the second (Dwitiya) day of shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of moon) of Āshādha Māsa (3rd month of Odia calendar).

2. The presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple, Puri's main temple, Prabhu Jagannath, Prabhu Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, with the celestial wheel - Sudarshana Chakra (ସୁଦର୍ଶନ ଚକ୍ର) are removed from the temple in a ceremonial procession to their chariots.

3. The huge, colorfully decorated chariots are drawn by multitude of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple (Gundicha – King Indradyumna's Queen), two miles away to the North.

4. On the way the chariot of Bhagwan Jagannatha, Nandighosa (ନନ୍ଦିଘୋଷ) waits near the crematorium of Bhakta Salabega (ଭକ୍ତ ସାଲବେଗ), a Muslim devotee, to pay him tribute. On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near, the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode.

They will complete the Yatra on the same chariots called 'Bahuda Yatra' on June 28.

6. The three chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc.

7. The names of the chariots are - Nandighosha (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), Darpadalana (Subhadra) which have numbers of wheels 16, 14, and 12 respectively.

The English word 'juggernaut' is derived from Jagannath. This is because of the enormous chariot of Jagannath.

9. Up to 1400 carpenters build three chariots each year for Ratha Yatra.