Jagannath Rath Yatra: Know 5 interesting facts and significance behind Rath Yatra and chariot pulling

Jagannath Rath Yatra: The Rath Yatra in Puri is regarded as one of the world’s oldest and most elaborate festival yatras. Each year, thousands of devotees go from all over the world only to have the opportunity to pull the rope of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra’s enormous chariots. However, did you realize that drawing the chariot is connected to a profound spiritual and cultural mystery in addition to being a religious ritual? Let’s learn five fascinating facts about it.

What makes drawing the chariot a virtue?

It is considered very pious to even touch the chariot’s rope. It is said that a person’s sins are erased when they pull the chariot, and God himself draws them to his dwelling. The ‘Papmochani ceremony’ is another name for it; it breaks the chains of sin in life.

Even God pushes his chariot

According to a folktale, lakhs of people draw the chariot, but in actuality, it only moves when God commands it to. Devotees see it as a heavenly miracle when the chariot often begins to move unexpectedly, even in the rain or in a busy area.

Rath Yatra chariot names and specializations

The three chariots had distinct names and sizes as well:

• Nandighosha, Lord Jagannath’s sixteen-wheeled chariot.
• Taladhwaj, Balabhadra’s 14-wheeled chariot.
• The twelve-wheeled Darpadalan, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra.

The chariots are always constructed from traditional wood and have a distinctive height and design.

Cherapahara: Even monarchs are subordinated

Gajapati Maharaj of Odisha uses a golden broom to sweep the chariot’s route during the Rath Yatra. We name this ‘Cherapahara.’ This represents the equality of all people before the Lord, regardless of status.

Aunt’s home and the Gundicha Yatra

The Lord visits his aunt’s home, the “Gundicha Temple,” as part of the Rath Yatra, which is more than simply a city tour. He returns from the ‘Bahuda Yatra’ after spending seven days there. Through this voyage, devotees believe that God is aware of people’s circumstances and takes away their sufferings.

The Puri Rath Yatra is a representation of life’s realities. The globe functions similarly to a chariot that is propelled by the Lord. The rope of that chariot ties us all together. The devotee unites with God by pushing the chariot and uttering the words, “O Lord! You also pull my life’s chariot.”