Famous Rath Yatra Puri: The Chariot Festival

The Rath Yatra 2016 in Puri is world famous and attracts more then one million pilgrims every year, not only from India but also from the different parts of the world.

Ratha Yatra Puri is a prominent Hindu festival and it is organized each year at famous Jagannath temp201le in Puri, Odisha, which is known as the fourth Dham of India. Ratha Yatra day is decided on the basis of Hindu Lunar calendar and it is fixed on Dwitiya Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Ashada month. This time Puri Rath Yatra 2016 falls in July 6th according to Gregorian calendar.

Lord Jagannatha is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and worshipped primarily in city of Puri at famous Jagannath temple so followers of Vaishnavism throughout the year comes to this spiritual capital of Odisha. Jagannath literally means Lord of the Universe. Jagannath temple is one of the four Hindu pilgrimage centers known as Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to make in one's lifetime as it is a mythological believe to a Lord Jagannath is worshipped along with his brother Lord Balabhadra and his sister Goddess Subhadra in this temple. 

Ratha Yatra Puri is all about the Lord Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha temple. The legendry behind it said that to honor the devotion of Queen Gundicha, wife of the legendary King Indradyumna who built the Puri Jagannath temple, the Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra leave their regular abode in the main temple and spend a few days in this temple built by Gundicha in their honor.

One day before of Ratha Yatra, Gundicha Temple is cleaned by devotees of Lord Jagannath. The ritual of cleaning Gundicha temple is known as Gundicha Marjana  and is held one day before Ratha Yatra.

The fourth day after Ratha Yatra Puri is celebrated as Hera Panchami when Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Jagannath, visits Gundicha temple in search of Lord Jagannath. Hera Panchami should not be confused with Panchami Tithi as Hera Panchami is celebrated on the fourth day after Ratha Yatra and usually observed on Shashthi Tithi.

After resting eight days in Gundicha temple Lord Jagannath returns to his main abode. This day is known as Bahuda Yatra or Return Yatra and is observed on the eighth day after Ratha Yatra on Dashami Tithi. During Bahuda Yatra Lord makes a short stoppage at Mausi Maa temple which is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.

Lord Jagannatha returns to his main abode just before Devshaani Ekadashi because after coming from Bahuda, Lord Jagannath goes to sleep for four months. Ratha Yatra is also known as Puri Car Festival among foreign visitors.

For more information about Ratha Yatra in Puri 2016, Visit -

http://www.rathyatra.org/