The temple town of Puri, located on the Bay of Bengal in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, is home to Lord Jagannath, who is the reincarnation of Lord Krishna. The 7th of July in 2024 will mark the celebration of Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024.
The second day of Shukla Paksha in the Ashadh month is when Puri celebrates the Jagannath Rath Yatra. One of Lord Vishnu’s primary incarnations is said to be Lord Jagannath Srihari, and the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is a representation of peace, harmony, and fraternity.
Thousands of pilgrims, tourists, and devotees go to Puri, Odisha, each year to take part in the Rath Yatra and enhance their good fortune by dragging the chariot. Additionally, it is said that individuals who take part in the Rath Yatra experience a multitude of pleasure and success.
This year’s great Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be in Puri over two days on July 7 and 8, 2024. This year, after 53 years, the Rath Yatra, Netra Utsav, and Nabajaubana Darshan will all coincide on July 7th, the same day as a celestial event. The deities will be brought to the Shree Gundicha temple on July 8.
The Significance of Rath Yatra
Centuries of history and culture have been invested in the Rath Yatra. Hindu legend states that every year during Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu, pays a visit to his aunt’s shrine in the Gundicha shrine.
Rich in history and mythology, the magnificent parade represents the holy creatures’ journey to their natal home. For believers, the Puri Rath Yatra has great spiritual importance. Seeing or taking part in the Rath Yatra procession is said to bestow heavenly blessings and guarantee spiritual elevation. Deeper dedication and respect are fostered among the devotees by the chanting of hymns, singing of devotional melodies, and the sight of the majestic chariots.
How is Rath Yatra celebrated?
A grandiose festival with strong roots in India’s rich cultural past is the Rath Yatra. On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, the nine-day celebration officially starts with the chariot building. The Daspalla forest provides the wood for these chariots, which can only be constructed by Srimandir’s carpenters.
Large chariots are drawn through the streets during the festival to symbolize the yearly trip of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra to the Gundicha shrine, their aunt’s shrine, in Puri, Odisha. It is said that before starting his trip back, Lord Jagannath takes a seven-day slumber during the celebration.
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