From temple to chariot: Colorful traditions of Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024

Lord Jagannath, along with Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, ascended their respective chariots following the completion of the three-hour-long 'Pahandi' ritual at Puri's Jagannath temple on Sunday.

Amid 'Jai Jagannath' chants and the sounds of gongs, conches, and cymbals, the 'Pahandi' ritual began at 11:15 am with Lord Sudarshan being escorted to Devi Subhadra's chariot, Darpadalan. Following Lord Sudarshan, Lord Balabhadra was taken to his Taladhwaja chariot, and Devi Subhadra was brought to her Darpadalan chariot in a special procession by servitors. Finally, Lord Jagannath was ceremonially taken to the Nandighosa chariot amid the sounds of gongs, completing the 'Pahandi' ritual around 2:15 pm.

The three majestic chariots now stand tall in front of the Singha Dwar of the temple, facing east towards the Gundicha temple. After the completion of the Pahandi ritual, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati paid obeisance to the deities on their chariots. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and several state ministers also visited the Shankaracharya.

It is said that the Rath Yatra in Puri has been ongoing since ancient times, dating back to the era of the Puranas. The chariots used in the Rath Yatra are enormous and take months to prepare. These chariots are finely crafted and decorated through sculpting and carving, transforming them into magnificent vehicles for the three deities for the duration of the festival. The Rath Yatra is seen as a reenactment of the journey made by Lord Jagannath, who is considered an incarnation of Lord Krishna, to his maternal aunt’s home (Gundicha mandir).

The story of Lord Jagannath Rath and the Puri Temple often raises the intriguing question: Why does the idol of Lord Jagannath only have a face, with an incomplete body? According to legend, when Vishwakarma was given the task of creating the idols of Jagannath Ji, he set a condition that no one should disturb him or enter his room until the idols were finished. However, one day, the Queen's curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the door. To everyone's surprise, Vishwakarma had disappeared, leaving behind the incomplete idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.

In a break from tradition, Odisha's Jagannath Rath Yatra sees key rituals, including 'Nabajouban Darshan' and 'Netra Utsav', condensed into a single day due to unique celestial alignments. Devotees prepare to pull chariots from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple in Puri amid spiritual significance.

Despite the heat and humidity, lakhs of devotees gathered at Badadanda to take part in the Rath Yatra, turning the entire stretch of the Grand Road into an ocean of humanity against the backdrop of three colourful chariots. Special arrangements have been made for President Droupadi Murmu to witness the Rath Yatra, which will be a two-day affair for the first time in 53 years.

The Chherapahanra ritual of the chariots by Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb is scheduled for 4 pm, with the chariot pulling set to start at 5 pm. Lord Balabhadra will lead the procession riding Taladhwaja, followed by Devi Subhadra in Darpadalana, and Lord Jagannath in Nandighosa at the end.

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi reached Badadanda, and President Droupadi Murmu is expected to arrive at the Grand Road outside the temple around 4:40 pm.

Odisha's L. Eswar Rao creates a detailed, eco-friendly miniature chariot using incense sticks, paper, and tamarind seeds to honor the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra. The intricate craft took 7 days to complete, symbolizing devotion to Lord Jagannath during the auspicious festival.