Bhubaneswar, May 1: The sacred preparations for the world-famous Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, have officially begun with the traditional commencement of Lord Jagannath’s chariot construction on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya, observed on April 30 this year.
This symbolic start marks the countdown to one of the grandest festivals in the Hindu calendar — the Rath Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots. Every year, millions of devotees from across the globe flock to witness the divine journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, as they travel from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in elaborately crafted wooden chariots.
The construction process is deeply rooted in tradition and ritual. Master artisans and carpenters, known as Maharana and Bhoi servitors, meticulously shape the massive chariots using sacred logs and age-old techniques passed down through generations. Every step in the construction is steeped in devotion and follows scriptural guidelines.
This year, the Rath Yatra is scheduled for June 27, celebrated annually on the Dwitiya Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha, according to the Hindu lunar calendar. While the chariot building marks the physical beginning, spiritually, the festival begins with Akshay Tritiya and concludes only after the divine siblings return to the temple in a grand Bahuda Yatra (return journey).
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the festival proceeds smoothly, with elaborate arrangements already underway. The Rath Yatra is not just a religious event but a vibrant expression of Odisha’s cultural legacy. Celebrated with devotion and fervor from Puri to faraway lands like New Zealand, London, and South Africa, the festival symbolizes unity, faith, and divine love.
As preparations pick up pace, anticipation builds among devotees, all set to be part of this majestic spectacle that honors the Holy Trinity’s divine sojourn to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha’s abode.
