With lakhs of devotees expected to arrive in Puri for Rath Yatra celebrations, Odisha government is taking all measures to ensure smooth conduct of the annual festival which is slated for July 18 this year. The state government is racing against time to brace up for the festival.
Keeping in view the safety of devotees and avoid any untoward incident, 9,000 policemen will be deployed during the yatra. Over 2,000 volunteers and 224 doctors will be deployed in Puri so as to provide emergency medical service to the devotees. Besides, 33 temporary sheds capable of accommodating one lakh people will be constructed by the government.
Here are seven facts you would like to know about Rath Yatra:
Rath Yatra is celebrated every year on the occasion of Ashad Shukla Dwitiya that falls between the months of June-July. This is the only time when Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel (3 km) to the Shri Gundicha Temple (the Mausima Temple) in huge chariots.
Also known as Shri Gundicha yatra or Car festival, it is celebrated to commemorate the annual visit of Lord Jagannath to their aunt's house, where they enjoy nine-day stay and are served with sweet pancakes.
The rathas of deities are made of wood and their construction starts with the Chandana Yatra. These are made by carpenters, Maharana, who hold hereditary rights.
The ratha of Lord Jagannath is 45 feet high and 35 square feet approximately and has 18 wheel. Lord Balaram’s chariot has 16 wheels and is around 45 feet high. The chariots are differentiated with specific colour and clothes – Lord Jagannath’s chariot (Nandighosa) is covered with red and yellow robes while Lord Baladhabra’s chariot (Taladhwaja) has red and blue robes of cloth and Devi Subhadra’s chariot (Dwarpadalana) is covered with red and black cloth.
Before the Rath Yatra festival, the door to the main Jagannath Temple in Puri is kept shut for seven days. It is believed that during this time, Lord Jagannath gets high fever due to which devotees are not allowed to see him.
There is one more significant ritual associated with the yatra. It is called Chhera Pahara, which is held on two days. Firstly, on the day on which deities are taken to garden house at Gundicha Temple and then on the last day of festival, when they are brought back to Shri Mandir. Lord Jagannath treats all devotees equally and during this festival, the Gajapati King, most powerful king of Kalingan kingdom, wears sweeper's outfit and sweeps around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (sweeping with water) ritual. Before the chariots are carried out, the road is cleaned by the King with gold-handled broom and sandalwood water is sprinkled everywhere.
After nine days stay at the Mausima Temple, the three deities are brought back to Shri Mandir and are offered Poda Pitha, a kind of baked cake consumed by Odisha people.
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