Ratha Yatra ("holiday of the chariots", "parade of chariots") is one of the most important Hindu holidays, which is annually celebrated in the month of Ashadha (June 22-July 22). Literally "ratha" is translated as "chariot", and "yatra" - as "procession, journey". The chariot is a very important symbol in Hinduism as it is the main vehicle for the deities.
Instructions
Step 1
The celebration takes place at the ancient temple of God Jagannath Sri Mandir in Puri. Puri is a town located near the capital of the state of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar. On the Ratha-yatra, a statue of Jagannath (analogue of Krishna and Vishnu) is taken out of the temple on a huge chariot and carried around the city.
Step 2
The essence of the festival is explained by two legends. According to one, Jagannath expressed a desire to visit Gundicha Ghar, the place where he was born, every year. According to another, the sister of God, Subhadra, wanted to go to Dvaraka to her parents, and her brothers Jagannath and Balarama decided to take her. The Bhagavata Purana, one of the sacred Hindu scriptures, says that on that day Krishna and Balarama went to Mathura for a competition announced by King Kansa.
Step 3
Ratha-yatra is an extremely spectacular and colorful festival. Three wooden chariots - one yellow and two blue - drive up to the eastern entrance of the temple (Lion's Gate), and in them are the statues of Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balarama. The chariots are decorated with panels of red cloth, black, yellow and blue flowers. Before the start of the procession, the royal ritual of Chkhera Pahanra is carried out: the raja of the city, dressed in white, sweeps the pedestals of the gods and the street with a golden broom and offers prayers, and the subjects play national musical instruments - kahali, ghanta and talingi badja (varieties of trumpet, gong and drum, respectively).
Step 4
Hundreds of people then drive the chariots across the city, with Jagannatha's chariot being the last to be pulled. The celebration usually attracts up to 500,000 pilgrims from all over the world.
Step 5
The giant divine chariots are followed by many smaller ones. They are used by pilgrims, as well as acrobats and gymnasts. The statues are brought to the Gundicha temple, where they are placed for a week. At the same time, they change their clothes every day and bring them padapitha rice cakes. A week later, the statues are taken home to Sri Mandir.
Step 6
At the end of the festival, the chariots break and give away chips as souvenirs.
