All Days and Rituals (in Order of Occurrence) of Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra

This article will explain the complete Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra historical story. When, why and how it is celebrated. Let’s look at the various days and rituals involved around the grand chariot procession.  

Pre-Yatra Preparations  

Preparations for the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra are extensive and start weeks  in advance.The pre yatra preparations mostly include cleansing of the deities and the temples.  

1. Snana Purnima: Purnima means full moon and Snana means a bath. This ritual takes place on the full moon of the month of  Jyestha. Jyestha is the third month of the Hindu calendar which coincides with the May-June period of the Gregorian calendar. On this auspicious day, the three deities, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra undergo a ceremonial grand bathing ritual.
2. Anasara (Anavasara): Anavasara means a holiday. Post the Snana Purnima ceremony, it is believed that the deities fall sick due to extensive bathing ritual. Hence comes this period of fourteen days of rest where they are away from public viewing. Devotees who wish to worship the Lord during this period travel to the Alarnath Temple in Brahmagiri, which is considered a manifestation of Lord Jagannath. 

3. Gundicha Marjana:  The deities travel to Gundicha temple during their Rath Yatra. This temple is considered their maternal aunt’s (maussi) house. Prior to their arrival, Gundicha Marajana is a ritual of thorough cleaning and preparations to welcome the Lord.   

    

The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival)  

The main festival or the Rath Yatra commences on the second day of Ashadh Shukla as per Hindu calendar which typically falls in June or July. While the Hindu calendar is normally difficult for people to predict or understand, the astrologers normally give out the dates well in advance.  

1. Morning Rituals: The day of Yatra has a series of sacred morning rituals. These include morning Mangal Alati or Aarti, Abakash i.e. brushing of teeth and bath (daily ritual, different from Snana Purnima),  Mailam i.e. change of clothes and Khichdi Bhog (breakfast). Post the daily morning tasks, a Managalarpana ceremony takes place during which the three deities are ceremonially brought to their respective chariots in a rhythmic and celebratory procession known as ‘Pahandi’. The three chariots belonging to the three deities are Nandighosha - Lord Jagannath’s Chariot, Taladhwaja - Lord Balabhadra’s Chariot, Darpadalana - Goddess Subhadra’s Chariot.
2. Chhera Panhara: Once the deities are seated in their magnificent chariots, the Chhera Panhara ceremony takes place. This ritual is performed by the Gajapati King of Puri, who is considered the "Adhyasevak" or  the first servitor of Lord Jagannath. The King is ceremoniously escorted from his royal palace, the Shreenahara to the chariots. He then offers camphor aarti using golden lamps, meticulously sweeps the chariots with a golden broom and sprinkles sandalwood and rose water upon them.
3. Pulling of the Chariots: Following the Chhera Panhara ceremony, the chariots are adorned with wooden horse idols and a trumpet is blown marking the start of the Jagannath Yatra. Thousands of devotees collectively pull the massive chariots along the Bada Danda (Grand road) towards the Gundicha Temple using thick ropes. The journey is about 3 Kms. The procession is filed with the chorus of spiritual chants, music, dhol and joyful celebrations. Many devotees consider the sacred act of pulling the chariots once in a lifetime spiritual opportunity and experience, establishing a connection with the divine.  

Why The Chhera Panhara Ritual is a Powerful Symbolic Act?  

The Chhera Panhara ritual is a strong message of equality amongst people. The Image of a king, performing the humble act of sweeping the chariots sends a visual message that all are equal before the divine. This reinforces the festival’s core message that Lord Jagannath is accessible to everyone, irrespective of their social status, caste or creed.  

Rituals During the Stay at Gundicha Temple  

The divine siblings, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra reside at the Gundicha Temple for seven to nine days.      During this duration, devotees are allowed to visit the temple and offer their prayers. This ritual of visiting maternal aunt’s house also coincides with the summer holidays from school in present times during which  kids visit their mother’s home during school break.  

1. Hera Panchami: While the three siblings visit their maternal aunt’s home at Gundicha temple, Goddess Lakshmi is left behind alone. The Hera Panchami depicts Goddess Lakshmi’s displeasure. She travels to Gundicha temple to insist on deities' early return. To appease her, Lord Jagannath offers her a garland. As a symbolic playful act of her displeasure, she instructs one of the servants to damage a portion of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandighosha, before she returns to the main temple via Hera Ghori Lane.  

The Return Journey (Bahuda Yatra)  

After their stay at the  Gundicha Temple, Lord Jagannath with his two siblings embark on their return journey to their original abode. This procession is called ‘The Bahuda Yatra’ or the ‘Return car festival’. This return journey happens with the same enthusiasm and celebrations as the initial yatra. During their return, the chariots also stop at the ‘Maussi Maa’ temple, where ‘Poda Pitha’, a traditional pancake is offered to the divine siblings.  

The Concluding Ceremony (Niladri Bijay)  

Niladri Bijay marks the final activity of the Shree Jagannath Puri Yatra, which happens on the thirteenth day of the Ashadha fortnight. In a grand ceremonial procession, the deities return to their sacred throne, the ‘Ratna Bedi’. This marks the conclusion of the festive visit. A unique ritual happens during this time when Lord Jagannath offers a Sweet (Rasgulla ) to Goddess Lakshmi to gain re-entry into the temple, symbolizing their reconciliation.  

Other Associated Festivals  

Apart from the main Jaganath Rath Yatra, several other significant festivals are observed at the Jagannath Temple in Puri throughout the year:  

• Chandan Yatra: This festival marks the auspicious commencement of the chariot construction process on Akshaya Tritiya.
• Nabakalebara: This is one of the most significant events associated with Lord Jagannath. It is the ceremonial installation of new wooden idols and the burial of the old ones. This happens every 8, 12 or 18 years. An important part of this ritual is the transfer of the "Brahma Padartha," a sacred element believed to represent Lord Krishna's eternal soul, from the old idol to the new. The most recent Nabakalebara took place in 2015. Previous to that, the Nabakalebara happened in 1996. The next ceremony is expected to happen in 1934 (unconfirmed).
• Other festivals include Dol Yatra in spring, Jhulan Yatra in monsoon, Pavitrotsava, Damanaka Utsava, and special ceremonies observed in the months of Kartika and Pausha.