Dr Sudipta from Puri files an exclusive report on the Rath Yatra that began on Friday (July 1). She traces its mythical history, customs, and rituals – an exclusive for Different Truths.

Rath Yatra is the famous colourful Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath, commemorating in Puri every year since immemorial. It is the oldest form of all car festivals, per the historical data mentioned in Skanda Purana, Kapil Purana, and Brahma Purana.

Various thoughts speculated about the initiations of the Car Festival in Puri. Some scholars strongly believed that the Car Festival was celebrated even before the birth of Christ. Even Fahien described the celebration of the Car Festival and the cleaning of Cars by the king of Purusottama Kshetra.

It is believed that six chariots were designed to move Lords from Grand Temple to Badasankha and then from the other bank of the river Malini to Gundicha Temple.

There are differences of opinion regarding the majestic festival Rath Yatra. There are also clashes of views regarding the filling of river Malini with sand among various scholars. There are also different baffling data and dates about the introduction of the Car Festival in Shreekshetra.

Irrespective of these data, it is undisputed that Rath Yatra of Puri is the most glorious festival in the world that establishes the rich heritage of Odisha magnificently and more incredibly than any other place on the earth.

This festival is auspiciously celebrated annually on Ashada Sukla Paksha Dwitiya (the second day in the bright fortnight of Ashada month). Every year, a sea of pilgrims witnessed this grand festival where the deities Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Ma Subhadra are taken out of the Temple in a grand procession (Pahandi).

Then after several enumerable rituals, chariots are pulled by pilgrims to the gate of the Gundicha Temple. The next day, in a procession after Dhadi Pahandi and Goti Pahandi, the divine deities are brought inside the temple. They remain there for nine days. Again, they return, called Bahuda of Lords, to their primary abode, Jagannath temple.

Before Niladri Bije, another unique ritual is celebrated in Shrikshetra, known as Sunabesa.

Sunabesa is the Lord’s incredible and unique golden makeup that attracts millions of devotees to Puri every year. They rush towards the city only to witness such eternal vivacity, which is otherwise unbelievable and a great experience.

Innumerable downtrodden (Patita) get salvation only by visualising a glimpse of Patitapaban Jagannath, Earth’s saviour. Rath Yatra is an eternal celebration of unique secularism through which all devotees of different caste and creeds celebrate the antiquity of Jagannathism that outnumbers Puri from other places in the world.

The flourishing ancient cult of Puri has a mesmerising attraction for pilgrims from different parts of the world. People, far and wide, offer their heartfelt devotion annually on the auspicious occasion of the Car Festival. They wash away their accumulated sins of years.

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Dr. Sudipta Mishra

Dr Sudipta Mishra is an Indian author and poet. She is an erudite scholar of English language literature in the Puri District of Odisha. She is a source of inspiration for the young generation of this country. Her free verse in romantic and melancholic poems is appreciated around the world. She has penned more than a hundred articles.