Jagannath Rath Yatra: Know what makes it so special and significant

The Jagannath Yatra happens to be the biggest and most prominent Hindu festival. The annual nine-day festival commences on July 1 and ends with Bahuda Yatra on July 9 in the 12th-century iconic shrine. The Rath Yatra happens in Odisha’s Puri and is visited by people from all over the globe. The festival starts with the procession and then sojourning of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra on three chariots. The chariots are drawn to Gundicha Temple which happens to be the birthplace of the deities. The chariot travels through Bada Danda where all the devotees gather.

The Gundicha temple is named after the queen, wife of Indradyumma who built the Jagannath temple in Puri. It is believed that Lord Jagannatha, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra come out of the temples once a year to visit queen Gundicha. The statues happen to be incomplete since queen Gundicha opened the doors of the temple before Vishwakarma could actually complete them. 

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Bahuda Yatra begins on the ninth day when the three deities take the return journey. Following the Bahuda Yatra, the deities enter the Niladri Bije, the temple. The Yatra culminates with Niladri Bije which will take place on July 12 this year. 

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The preparations for the Rath Yatra festivities begin weeks before the actual festival starts. The chariots are constructed every year. They are made up of wood derived from trees like Dhausa and Phassi. Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of Vaisakh, marks the day when the chariot construction starts. 

It is believed that anyone who gets a glimpse of the deities or is able to touch upon the rope connected to them attains salvation in life.