Rath Yatra – The name evokes piousness and devotion among Hindus and even to the other communities. The only festival where the deities are not worshipped inside their abode but, taken out of the temples to travel along with devotees. The grandest festival where the entire procession runs on wheels (chariots) only to be returned after 9 days with equal pomp and show.
The festival of “Rath” is a phenomenon that has been followed for the last few thousands of years in a similar fashion.
The importance of Rath Yatra
According to the Brahma Purana, the importance of this festival is explained in the following words –
“Those who are fortunate enough to witness the deities of Srimandira in the Guindicha temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, get the privilege of going to Vishnulok (or, the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu).”
“The chariot is the body and the deity is the soul. True wisdom is the governing spirit (charioteer) behind the mind and thoughts.
Worshipping Lord Jagannath (who is the master of the universe) is like knowing the universe in its microcosm. Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and his brother Balabhadra are worshipped together as the fundamental or the Holy Trinity. These forms can be manifested as the ones with supreme power – Omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.
A brush with the history
The earliest origin of the Rath Yatra can be traced back to the 12th Century AD. The holy ritual includes the chariot procession of the three deities. The procession is 3 Km long till the Gundicha temple. Once the chariots reach the Gundicha complex, the idols are taken for a holy bath. After that, they rest in the temple for 8 days and on the 9th day, they are brought back to the original abode.
Pulling the chariot symbolizes the cleansing of one’s mind and surrendering to the Supreme Creator of this universe. Puri in the Odisha state is one of the ‘Char Dham’ pilgrimages and is considered extremely sacred for the Hindus.
Why is so special?
The festival of Rath is celebrated in magnificent proportion with millions of devotees flocking the chariots and following their journey. The celebration is at such a magnificent scale, then the term “Juggernaut” has been added to the English dictionary. It refers to something huge and indomitable spirit or a being of immense magnitude.
The nation waits with bated breath for this day. This year we are celebrating on the 1st of July. The day has come as we celebrate this year’s Rath Yatra today. We at Originate Soft Pvt. Ltd wishes everyone a very happy and prosperous Rath Jagannath Yatra.
- Its significance is immense for individuals with spiritual merit
- This day is also an auspicious day for businessmen
- Marking this holy day, processions come out to become one with the deity himself
- Pulling or even holding the ropes of the chariots is considered sacred
Why this festival is so holy?
It is believed that once the sight of Lord Jagannath bestows upon you, it never goes unnoticed. Only the luckiest ones have this privilege and you could be one of them. Given the grand scale of preparations performed on this day, you cannot help but stay in awe of the sheer importance of this event.
Mark that –
Perhaps no other celebration in India is as holy and grand as this. So, if you have got a business to launch or looking for new ways to boost your existing start-up, you can take the blessings of Lord Jagannath before starting. For instance, you can hire web design and development services and breathe a fresh lease of life into your small business.
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