Puri, June 27: The sacred town of Puri has turned into a sea of devotion as thousands of devotees gathered to witness the commencement of the grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings – Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – on Friday.
The nine-day-long religious spectacle began with the deities’ ceremonial journey to their birthplace, the Gundicha Temple.
To ensure a smooth and safe celebration, over 10,000 police personnel have been deployed to manage traffic and maintain law and order in the city. With more than 30 lakh devotees, including thousands of international visitors, expected to throng the Grand Road of Puri, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Car Festival, is held annually on the second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Ashadha in the Odia calendar. It marks the symbolic journey of the deities from their sanctum at the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be the home of their aunt, Goddess Ardhasini (Mausima).
As part of the grand tradition, the deities are brought out of the temple through the Pahandi ritual – a ceremonial procession where the idols are carried with rhythmic chants, cymbals, and conch shells. They are then placed onto three uniquely crafted wooden chariots, which are pulled by thousands of devotees along the 3-km stretch of the Bada Danda (Grand Road).
Each chariot is a marvel of craftsmanship. Lord Balabhadra’s chariot is called Taladhwaja, Devi Subhadra’s is Darpadalan, and Lord Jagannath’s is the majestic Nandighosa. These chariots are freshly built every year using wood from specific trees found in Odisha. The construction involves nearly 200 skilled artisans, including carpenters, painters, and sculptors, who work tirelessly for over two months starting from Akshaya Tritiya.
Each chariot varies in colour, height, diameter, and even in the number of horses and guardian deities it carries. These distinctions add to the grandeur and uniqueness of the festival. The sight of millions pulling the ropes of these colossal chariots is considered a sacred act that washes away sins and grants divine blessings.
The deities will remain at the Gundicha Temple for a week and return to their abode during the Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival) on July 5.As chants of "Jai Jagannath" echo across Puri and chariots roll through the Grand Road, the Rath Yatra continues to represent Odisha’s vibrant spiritual and cultural identity, drawing people from across the world into its fold of timeless devotion.
