Latest Happening on Shri Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2024
Shri Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2024: A Grand Celebration The Shri Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, also known as the Gundicha Yatra, is an age-old and revered festival celebrated in Puri, Odisha. This vibrant event, rooted in ancient scriptures like the Skanda Purana, marks the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, a 3-kilometer journey on grand chariots. Rituals and Traditions The yatra begins on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha. The deities are brought out in a ceremonial procession known as "pahandi" and placed on their respective chariots. Following this, the Gajapati Maharaja performs the "Chhera Panhara" ritual, where he sweeps the chariots with a golden broom, symbolizing humility and service. The chariots are then pulled by thousands of devotees, an act believed to confer divine blessings. The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for seven days, during which various ri...