Puri Rath Yatra :
'Rath Yatra in Puri is a famous and much loved festival of Lord Jagannath which is celebrated every year and therefore, with the coming of the new year, we are about to behold the grand procession named as Rath Yatra of 2012 in Puri. The yatra takes place in the mid summers. During the yatra or chariot festival, the two gods named as Lord Jagannath and Lord Balarama along with their sister Subhadra embarks to spend a vacation in the countryside. The holy spectacle is witnessed by huge crowds of the diehard devotees of Lord Jagannath and the festival stretches for nine days.
A common belief with this festival is that the ceremony in which the chariot is pulled is associated with Buddhism as the Buddhist idol used to be pulled in this manner only. Britishers in the 18th century came up with the term called as ‘juggernaut’, which meant the spirit of destruction. This is because at the time of the chariot procession, many a people in the crowd died by coming under the wheels.
The chariot on which Lord Jagannath goes for procession is named as Nandighosa consisting of 18 wheels, while Balbhadra’s chariot is known as Taladhvaja having 16 wheels and goddess Subhadra’s chariot is named as Devadalana consisting of 14 wheels. It is a ritual of every year that fresh and new chariots are built for the gods in Jagannath Puri. Numerous artisans, weavers as well as craftsmen are involved in the construction of the chariot. The pulling of the rope of the chariot or to touch the rath is considered by be extremely lucky and auspicious. People believe that this brings prosperity to the lives of the people. The rath yatra festival also takes place in Ahmadabad and in West Bengal where the procession of Mahesh is held.
Rath Yatra 2012 in Puri will start from 3rd July, which is Sunday. According to the Hindu calendar, the the festivities start on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya which comes in the month of Ashad. The starting journey of the chariot to the countryside is also called Chandan Jatra, while the return journey is referred as Bahuda Yatra. The starting journey named as Chandan Yatra begins on Akshay Tritiya.
It is a common belief of the devotees that having a glimpse of this yatra or witnessing the sight of the lords frees us from the circle of birth and death. Lord Jagannath, the incarnation of Lord Jagannath is believed to be the reliever from the disease and sorrows of the people in the Kala Yuga. Moreover, people believe in the holy city of Puri, the effect and dominance of the god of Death, known as Yama becomes null and void. And because of this reason, Puri is also referred with the name of Yamanika Tirtha. The entire structure of the three raths is designed in the form of the structure of the three temples of the two lords and the goddess in Puri. The entire festival is filled with the sheer sacred feeling. Therefore, do make it a point to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra 2012 and feel the complete sacred essence of the festival.