By : odishavisit
It is the most ancient Ratha Yatra, including descriptions in the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samhita. Rath Yatra, also known as Jatra, is the festival of Lord Jagannath, who is thought to be the Lord of the Universe’s pilgrimage to his aunt’s residence.
The festival honors Jagannath’s yearly journey to Gundicha Temple from Mausi Maa Temple (his maternal aunt’s home) in Saradha Bali, Puri.
This annual festival is held on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (the second day in the bright fortnight of Ashadha month).
RATHA YATRA, or the Chariot Festival: Every year on the second (Dwitiya) day of the Shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of the moon) of Āshādha Māsa, Puri, the temple town in Odisha, celebrates Shri Jagannath’s Chariots (3rd month of Odia calendar).
The presiding deities of Puri’s main temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel- Sudarshana Chakra (ସୁଦର୍ଶନ ଚକ୍ର ), are ceremonially removed from the temple to their chariots.
The massive, colorfully decked chariots are drawn by a swarm of devotees on the bada danda, the majestic avenue leading to the Gundicha Temple (Gundicha-King Indradyumna’s Queen), which is two miles to the north. On the approach to Lord Jagannatha’s chariot, Nandighosa (ନନ୍ଦିଘୋଷ) stops near the crematorium of Bhakta Salabega, a Muslim follower, to pay him tribute.