Ganesh mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Meaning: Om, gam: salutation to Ganapati, lord of the ganas.
When and how: At the start of the home puja, 11 times.
Indha page innum Tanglish-la ezhudhala, adhanaala English-la irukku.
Shukla paksha · Ashadha · amanta reckoning
When is Jagannath Rath Yatra 2027?
Mon, 5 Jul
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2027 is on Monday, 5 July. It is Dwitiya of Shukla paksha in Ashadha.
2028: Saturday, 24 June 2028
Also called Jagannath Rath Yatra, Puri Rath Yatra. Those are the same observance and the same date, so they share this page rather than competing with it from a second URL.
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Monday, 5 July 2027
Jagannath Rath Yatra is not a Gregorian date. It is Shukla paksha tithi 2 of Ashadha in the amanta reckoning, and the Gregorian day it lands on moves by up to a month between years because twelve lunations fall about eleven days short of a solar year.
- Tithi
- Dwitiya, Shukla paksha
- Lunar month
- Ashadha (amanta)
- Tithi begins
- 5 Jul, 4:51 AM
- Tithi ends
- 6 Jul, 1:14 AM
- Decided at
- Sunrise
- Sunrise in New Delhi
- 5 Jul, 5:28 AM
Sunrise in New Delhi falls at 5:28 AM on that day, and that is the instant the tithi has to be running at for the day to carry the observance. It is computed for this city rather than assumed, because it is what decides the date.
The two instants above are the astronomy and are not in dispute. The day is an interpretation of them: this observance is decided at sunrise, so it belongs to the day whose sunrise the tithi carries — not simply to the day the tithi begins.
Rath Yatra is the chariot festival of Jagannath: on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra leave the Puri temple on three towering wooden chariots, pulled through the streets by lakhs of devotees to the Gundicha temple. In New Delhi the date is Monday, 5 July 2027, and Dwitiya runs 4:51 AM to 1:14 AM (6 Jul); the procession itself starts at the time the Puri temple announces, usually in the afternoon. The deities return on the ninth day, Ashadha Shukla Dashami, in the Bahuda (Ulta Rath) Yatra.
| Muhurat | Time in New Delhi | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | 5:28 AMThe upper edge of the Sun on the horizon, with refraction. | The day of the festival is counted from sunrise. At home, the bath and the morning puja of Jagannath are done after it. |
| Brahma Muhurta | 4:07 AM to 4:47 AMThe 14th of the night's fifteen muhurtas, ending one muhurta before sunrise. | The hour before dawn, for the bath and for the mangala aarti that devotees in Puri and at home attend before the long day of the procession. |
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:57 AM to 12:53 PMThe 8th of the day's fifteen muhurtas, around local noon. | The midday muhurta, a good time for the home puja and the bhog for families who will watch or join a procession in the afternoon. There is no Abhijit on a Wednesday, by convention. |
| Auspicious choghadiya (day) |
| The day's Amrit, Shubh, Labh and Chal choghadiyas, for those who like to time a home puja, a small chariot procession or the start of a new venture on this day. |
| Sunset | 7:23 PMThe upper edge of the Sun leaving the horizon. | Chariots that have not reached the Gundicha temple stop for the night and are pulled again the next morning; at home, the evening aarti is done at dusk. |
Auspicious windows that day
| Window | Time in New Delhi | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:57 AM to 12:53 PM | Auspicious |
| Amrit Kaal | 7:12 AM to 8:37 AM | Most Auspicious |
| Amrit Kaal (Second) | 12:54 AM to 2:19 AM | Most Auspicious |
| Brahma Muhurat | 4:07 AM to 4:47 AM | Auspicious |
Windows usually worked around
These are the spans classical muhurta sets aside for beginnings. They are descriptions of a convention, not warnings: the observance is kept on its day regardless, and nothing here needs to be bought, corrected or remedied.
| Window | Time in New Delhi |
|---|---|
| Rahu Kaal | 7:12 AM to 8:56 AM |
| Yamaganda Kaal | 10:41 AM to 12:25 PM |
| Durmuhurta First | 12:53 PM to 1:49 PM |
| Durmuhurta Second | 3:40 PM to 4:36 PM |
| Varjyam | 4:24 PM to 5:49 PM |
Every time above is computed for New Delhi around Monday, 5 July 2027, from the sunrise, sunset and the positions of the Sun and Moon for this city. The Vedic day runs sunrise to sunrise, so a window whose clock time falls after midnight still belongs to the evening before; a time on another date carries that date.
Bathe and prepare the altar
Bathe early and clean the puja corner. Set up a picture or wooden images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, from your left to your right as you face them: Balabhadra, Subhadra, Jagannath, as they sit in the Puri temple. Light a ghee lamp and incense.
Ganesh first
Worship Ganesh with Om Gam Ganapataye Namah, offering water, a flower and a sweet.
Worship the three deities
Offer water, sandalwood paste, flowers and tulsi leaves, a tulsi garland to Jagannath above all, and a little cloth or mauli. Chant Jai Jagannath, or the Hare Krishna mahamantra, as you offer.
The bhog
Offer khichdi, kheer, malpua or pitha, sprouted moong, and fruits of the season such as mango, jackfruit and jamun, with water. Jagannath's temple kitchen is famous for its prasad, and families cook simply and with care in its spirit.
A small chariot at home
In Odisha and Bengal children decorate a small wooden or cardboard chariot, place the deities on it and pull it around the courtyard or the lane, calling Jai Jagannath. Many families do this at home or in the housing society.
Join or watch the procession
Go to the nearest Rath Yatra, of a local Jagannath temple or ISKCON, and take a turn on the rope if you can do so safely; touching the rope is believed to be a great blessing. If you cannot go, watch the Puri procession and offer a flower with folded hands when the chariots move.
Kirtan and recitation
Sing kirtan, recite the Jagannath Ashtakam if you know it, and say the verse rathastham vamanam drishtva on seeing the deities on their chariots.
Aarti
Do the aarti with a ghee lamp or camphor in the evening, singing Om Jai Jagdish Hare, and ask pardon for any mistake in the puja.
Share the prasad
Share the bhog with family, neighbours and those in need; at Jagannath's temple, prasad is shared by everyone alike, and annadaan is the classic offering of the day.
Keep the nine days
Follow the stay at the Gundicha temple: Hera Panchami, when Lakshmi comes looking for Jagannath; the Bahuda Yatra home on Dashami; Suna Besha, the golden attire, the next day; and Niladri Bije, the return into the temple.
- Picture or images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra Wooden images in the Puri style, or a printed picture.
- A small decorated chariot Wooden or homemade from cardboard, with three flags, for the children's procession.
- Chowki and a cloth Red, yellow or white; many use the bright patterned cloths of Odisha.
- Sandalwood paste For the deities' foreheads and the offering.
- Tulsi leaves and a tulsi garland Jagannath's favourite offering.
- Flowers and garlands Marigold, jasmine or lotus, whatever is in season.
- Ghee lamp, wicks, camphor and incense For the puja and the aarti.
- A bell or conch Rung and blown during the aarti, as at the temple.
- Rice and moong dal for khichdi The simplest and most loved bhog of Jagannath.
- Milk, rice and sugar for kheer A sweet bhog.
- Sprouted moong Offered and given as prasad in many places, Ahmedabad above all.
- Seasonal fruits Mango, jackfruit, jamun, cucumber and pomegranate.
- Pitha or malpua Odia poda pitha, Jagannath's favourite, or any homemade sweet.
- Water in a lota For the offering and achaman.
- Mauli or a little cloth Offered as clothing for the deities.
- Kirtan instruments Kartal, mridanga or a simple bell, for singing at home or in the procession.
- Food for annadaan Khichdi, fruit or packets of food to share with those in need.
- A water bottle and a cap For anyone joining a procession in the Ashadha heat and rain.
Jagannath nama mantra
ॐ श्री जगन्नाथाय नमः
Om Shri Jagannathaya Namah
Meaning: Om, salutation to Shri Jagannath, the Lord of the universe.
When and how: 11 or 108 times while offering tulsi and flowers; the simple chant Jai Jagannath is sung by everyone at the procession.
Seeing the Lord on the chariot
दोलायमानं गोविन्दं मञ्चस्थं मधुसूदनम् ।
रथस्थं वामनं दृष्ट्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ॥
Dolayamanam Govindam manchastham Madhusudanam
Rathastham Vamanam drishtva punarjanma na vidyate
Meaning: Having seen Govinda on the swing, Madhusudana on the bathing platform and Vamana on the chariot, one is not born again.
When and how: A traditional verse of the Jagannath festivals (Dola Yatra, Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra), said with folded hands on seeing the deities on their chariots.
Jagannath Ashtakam, first verse
कदाचित्कालिन्दीतटविपिनसङ्गीतकरवो
मुदाभीरीनारीवदनकमलास्वादमधुपः ।
रमाशम्भुब्रह्मामरपतिगणेशार्चितपदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥
Kadachit Kalindi-tata-vipina-sangitaka-ravo
Mudabhiri-nari-vadana-kamalasvada-madhupah
Rama-Shambhu-Brahma-Amarapati-Ganesharchita-pado
Jagannathah Swami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me
Meaning: He whose music at times rings through the groves on the bank of the Kalindi, who like a bee delights in the lotus faces of the cowherd women, whose feet are worshipped by Lakshmi, Shiva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesh: may Jagannath, my Lord, be always before my eyes.
When and how: The first of eight verses traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya; recite it, or the whole Ashtakam, in the morning puja.
Hare Krishna mahamantra
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ।
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ॥
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Meaning: Sixteen names of the Lord, a call to Hari, Rama and Krishna; the Kali-Santarana Upanishad teaches it with the Hare Rama half first, and the Gaudiya tradition sings the Hare Krishna half first.
When and how: Sung in kirtan before the chariots, as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sang in Puri and ISKCON processions sing around the world; on a mala of 108 beads at home.
Aarti Vishnu Aarti: Om Jai Jagdish Hare (sung for Jagannath, Lord of the world) the full text
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे।
भक्त जनों के संकट, दास जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
जो ध्यावे फल पावे, दुःख बिनसे मन का, स्वामी दुःख बिनसे मन का।
सुख सम्पति घर आवे, सुख सम्पति घर आवे, कष्ट मिटे तन का॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
मात पिता तुम मेरे, शरण गहूं किसकी, स्वामी शरण गहूं मैं किसकी।
तुम बिन और न दूजा, तुम बिन और न दूजा, आस करूं मैं जिसकी॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
तुम पूरण परमात्मा, तुम अन्तर्यामी, स्वामी तुम अन्तर्यामी।
पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, तुम सब के स्वामी॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
तुम करुणा के सागर, तुम पालनकर्ता, स्वामी तुम पालनकर्ता।
मैं मूरख फलकामी, मैं सेवक तुम स्वामी, कृपा करो भर्ता॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
तुम हो एक अगोचर, सबके प्राणपति, स्वामी सबके प्राणपति।
किस विधि मिलूं दयामय, किस विधि मिलूं दयामय, तुमको मैं कुमति॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
दीन-बन्धु दुःख-हर्ता, ठाकुर तुम मेरे, स्वामी रक्षक तुम मेरे।
अपने हाथ उठाओ, अपने शरण लगाओ, द्वार पड़ा तेरे॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
विषय-विकार मिटाओ, पाप हरो देवा, स्वामी पाप हरो देवा।
श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ, श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ, सन्तन की सेवा॥
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे।
भक्त जनों के संकट, दास जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥
Om jai Jagdish hare, swami jai Jagdish hare.
Bhakt janon ke sankat, das janon ke sankat, kshan mein door kare.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Jo dhyave phal pave, dukh binse man ka, swami dukh binse man ka.
Sukh sampati ghar aave, sukh sampati ghar aave, kasht mite tan ka.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Maat pita tum mere, sharan gahoon kiski, swami sharan gahoon main kiski.
Tum bin aur na dooja, tum bin aur na dooja, aas karoon main jiski.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Tum pooran Parmatma, tum antaryami, swami tum antaryami.
Parabrahm Parmeshwar, Parabrahm Parmeshwar, tum sab ke swami.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Tum karuna ke sagar, tum palankarta, swami tum palankarta.
Main moorakh phalkami, main sevak tum swami, kripa karo bharta.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Tum ho ek agochar, sabke pranpati, swami sabke pranpati.
Kis vidhi miloon dayamay, kis vidhi miloon dayamay, tumko main kumati.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Deen-bandhu dukh-harta, thakur tum mere, swami rakshak tum mere.
Apne haath uthao, apne sharan lagao, dwar pada tere.
Om jai Jagdish hare.
Vishay-vikar mitao, paap haro deva, swami paap haro deva.
Shraddha bhakti badhao, shraddha bhakti badhao, santan ki seva.
Om jai Jagdish hare, swami jai Jagdish hare.
Bhakt janon ke sankat, das janon ke sankat, kshan mein door kare.
Text as it is commonly sung. The Gita Press Aarti Sangrah prints 'prabhu' for 'swami', 'chhin mein' for 'kshan mein' and 'khal kami' for 'phalkami'; it does not repeat the half-lines, has no 'das janon ke sankat', 'main sevak tum swami' or 'apne sharan lagao', and reads 'tum thakur mere' for 'thakur tum mere, swami rakshak tum mere'. Printed text
The katha
The temple tradition of Puri tells of King Indradyumna, a devotee of Vishnu, who longed to see the Lord worshipped in the forest as Nila Madhava. A divine voice told him that the Lord would come to Puri as a great log (daru) floating in the sea. When the log arrived, no craftsman could cut it, until an old carpenter offered to carve the images alone behind closed doors for twenty-one days, on the condition that no one open them.
As the days passed and the sound of carving stopped, the queen, Gundicha, feared for the old man and the doors were opened before time. The carpenter, said to be Vishwakarma or the Lord himself, had vanished, leaving the three images with round eyes and without finished hands and feet. A voice told the king to worship them just as they were, and so Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are worshipped in that form to this day. The Gundicha temple, where the chariots go, bears the queen's name.
Why the chariots? Popular tradition says Subhadra once wished to see the city, and her brothers took her out on chariots, and that every year Jagannath goes to stay a week at the home of his aunt, the Gundicha temple. Devotees of the Gaudiya tradition see in it Krishna's return to Vrindavan, and remember Chaitanya Mahaprabhu dancing in ecstasy before the chariots in Puri.
The festival begins a fortnight earlier: on Snana Purnima the deities are bathed with one hundred and eight pots of water and are said to fall ill, and they stay in seclusion (anasara), treated with herbs, until they appear fresh again, the nava yauvana darshan, just before the Rath Yatra.
Why it is kept
Rath Yatra is the day the Lord comes out of the temple to his people. In the procession anyone may see him and pull his chariot, whatever their caste, creed or nation, and tradition holds that a sight of the Lord on the chariot frees the soul from rebirth. Each year three new chariots are built from fresh timber, starting on Akshaya Tritiya: Nandighosa for Jagannath, with sixteen wheels, Taladhwaja for Balabhadra, with fourteen, and Darpadalana for Subhadra, with twelve. Before they move, the Gajapati king of Puri sweeps the chariots with a golden broom and sprinkles sandalwood water, the Chhera Pahanra, the king as a sweeper before the Lord.
The festival runs nine days. Balabhadra's chariot leads, then Subhadra's, then Jagannath's, along the Bada Danda to the Gundicha temple. On Hera Panchami, Lakshmi comes to the Gundicha temple looking for her husband, who left her behind. On Ashadha Shukla Dashami the deities return in the Bahuda Yatra, stopping at the Mausi Maa temple for poda pitha; the next day they are dressed in gold (Suna Besha) on their chariots, and on Niladri Bije they re-enter the temple, where Lakshmi is pacified with rasagolla.
Pull the rope, or touch it
Taking a turn on the chariot rope, or even touching it, is believed to be a great blessing. Do it only where it is safe, and never push in a crowd.
See the Lord on the chariot
Tradition holds that a sight of Jagannath on the chariot frees one from rebirth; if you cannot go, watch the procession with folded hands and say the verse rathastham vamanam drishtva.
Annadaan
Give khichdi, fruit or a meal to those in need. Jagannath's prasad is shared by all alike, so sharing food is the classic offering of the day.
Tulsi for Jagannath
Offer tulsi leaves or a tulsi garland to Jagannath at home or at the temple; it is his favourite offering.
Help someone else see the Lord
Take an elderly person, a child or someone who cannot go alone to see the chariots, or arrange for them to watch. Families count it as a seva of the day.
Kirtan through the nine days
Sing or listen to kirtan in the evenings from the Rath Yatra to the Bahuda Yatra; the nine days are a time of devotion in Jagannath's homes.
Do
- Bathe early and worship Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra at home.
- Join a procession or watch it, and take a turn on the rope if it is safe.
- Offer khichdi, sweets, fruit and tulsi, and share the prasad.
- Sing Jai Jagannath and the mahamantra with the crowd.
- Carry water and keep children and elders close in the crowd.
- Follow the instructions of the police and the volunteers.
- Keep the nine days, from the outward journey to the Bahuda Yatra.
Don't
- Do not push, run or climb on the chariots or the barricades.
- Do not throw coins, fruit or objects at the chariots.
- Do not litter the route or waste prasad.
- Do not stand in front of the wheels or under the ropes as the chariots move.
- Do not eat meat or drink alcohol on the day, by the custom of most families.
- Do not let small children out of sight in the crowd.
By region
- Puri, Odisha
- The original Rath Yatra: three new chariots on the Bada Danda, the Gajapati king's Chhera Pahanra, lakhs of pilgrims, and the nine days to the Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha and Niladri Bije.
- Elsewhere in Odisha
- Many towns have their own chariots; at Baripada, known as the second Srikshetra, women pull Subhadra's chariot.
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- The procession from the Jamalpur Jagannath temple is among the largest in India, with sprouted moong, jamun, cucumber and pomegranate given as prasad; the same day, Ashadhi Bij, is the Kutchi New Year.
- West Bengal
- The Mahesh Rath Yatra at Serampore is among the oldest in India; fairs (rather mela) sell papad and jilipi, children pull small chariots, Ulto Rath marks the return, and in Kolkata's Kumartuli work on the Durga idols traditionally begins with the worship of the frames on Rath Yatra day.
- ISKCON around the world
- Since the first ISKCON Rath Yatra in San Francisco, chariots roll through London, New York and hundreds of cities, with kirtan and free prasad.
Bhog, prasad and fasting food
- Khichdi Rice and moong dal, the simplest of Jagannath's bhog, offered and shared.
- Poda pitha Odisha's baked rice-and-jaggery cake, Jagannath's favourite, offered at the Mausi Maa temple on the way home.
- Sprouted moong, jamun and cucumber Ahmedabad's Rath Yatra prasad.
- Malpua and kheer Sweet bhog made at home.
- Papad and jilipi The fair food of Bengal's rather mela.
- Mango and jackfruit Fruits of Ashadha, offered and shared.
- Rasagolla Offered on Niladri Bije in Odisha, when Jagannath pacifies Lakshmi.
Two years back, this year, and two ahead. Past years are kept rather than dropped so you can check the engine against a calendar you already have.
| Year | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sunday, 7 July 2024 | past |
| 2025 | Friday, 27 June 2025 | past |
| 2026This year | Thursday, 16 July 2026 | past |
| 2027 | Monday, 5 July 2027 | upcoming |
| 2028 | Saturday, 24 June 2028 | upcoming |
Every row is computed for New Delhi from the same ephemeris, not looked up. Sunrise decides which day a tithi names, and sunrise differs across India by more than an hour, so a date computed for Delhi can be a day out elsewhere.
There is no single authority that settles a Hindu festival date, and the divergence is genuine rather than sloppy. Three causes account for almost all of it.
- A tithi rarely starts at sunrise. One that is running at the deciding moment on two days — or on none — is claimed by both days under different rules.
- Month reckoning. North India runs purnimanta, the south and west amanta. The same dark fortnight carries different month names in the two, so an observance defined as "krishna X of month Y" can land a full lunation apart.
- Which moment decides. Most vratas belong to the day whose sunrise carries the tithi, but not all: this one is decided at sunrise. Almanacs that apply the sunrise rule to everything move several festivals by a day.
So this page shows its working. If your pandit or your family almanac gives a different day, the instants above will usually show you exactly why — and that is more useful than a date asserted without one.
Common questions
When is Jagannath Rath Yatra?
Monday, 5 July 2027. It is Dwitiya of Shukla paksha in Ashadha, and that tithi runs from 5 Jul, 4:51 AM to 6 Jul, 1:14 AM.
Why does another calendar give a different Jagannath Rath Yatra date?
Three honest reasons. The tithi can be running at the deciding moment on two days or on none. North India reckons the month purnimanta and the south and west amanta, which names the same krishna fortnight differently. And almanacs differ on which moment of the day decides an observance. The instants above are the astronomy; the day is an interpretation of them.
When is Rath Yatra, and at what time do the chariots move?
In New Delhi, Rath Yatra falls on Monday, 5 July 2027, Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, and Dwitiya runs 4:51 AM to 1:14 AM (6 Jul). The time of the pahandi, the Chhera Pahanra and the first pull is not a muhurat window: the Puri temple administration announces it each year, and the chariots usually start rolling in the afternoon. Local temples and ISKCON announce their own schedules.
Why is Rath Yatra celebrated?
It is the day Jagannath, Lord of the universe, comes out of his temple to his people with Balabhadra and Subhadra, riding chariots to the Gundicha temple, his aunt's home in popular tradition. Anyone may see him and pull his chariot, whatever their caste or nation, and a sight of the Lord on the chariot is believed to free the soul from rebirth.
What is the story behind Rath Yatra?
Puri's temple tradition tells how King Indradyumna received the Lord as a log from the sea, and how an old carpenter carved the images behind closed doors until Queen Gundicha had the doors opened early, leaving them unfinished; the king was told to worship them as they were. Popular tradition adds that Subhadra wished to see the city, so her brothers took her out on chariots. The full katha is above.
How many days does Rath Yatra last?
Nine days. The deities leave the temple on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, Monday, 5 July 2027, stay at the Gundicha temple, and return in the Bahuda Yatra on Ashadha Shukla Dashami. Hera Panchami falls in between; Suna Besha, the golden attire, follows the Bahuda Yatra, and Niladri Bije, the return into the temple, closes the festival.
When is the Ulta Rath or Bahuda Yatra?
On Ashadha Shukla Dashami, usually eight days after the outward journey of Monday, 5 July 2027. Odisha calls it the Bahuda Yatra and Bengal Ulto Rath. On the way home the chariots stop at the Mausi Maa temple, where the Lord is offered poda pitha.
What are the names of the three chariots?
Nandighosa, Jagannath's, with sixteen wheels and red and yellow canopies; Taladhwaja, Balabhadra's, with fourteen wheels in red and green; and Darpadalana, Subhadra's, with twelve wheels in red and black. They are built fresh every year from new timber, beginning on Akshaya Tritiya, and roll in the order Balabhadra, Subhadra, Jagannath.
What is Chhera Pahanra?
Before the chariots move, the Gajapati king of Puri, the first servant of Jagannath, sweeps the chariot platforms with a golden-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and flowers. The rite shows that before the Lord a king is only a sweeper, and the chariots are pulled after it.
What is Rath Yatra's meaning, and which gods ride the chariots?
Rath Yatra means the chariot journey. Three deities ride: Jagannath, a form of Krishna and Vishnu, his elder brother Balabhadra (Balarama) and their sister Subhadra, with the Sudarshana chakra. They travel from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple and back.
How can I celebrate Rath Yatra at home?
Worship pictures of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra with sandalwood, flowers and tulsi, offer khichdi, kheer, pitha and fruit, let the children pull a small decorated chariot around the courtyard or the lane, sing Jai Jagannath and kirtan, do the evening aarti and share the prasad. Watching the Puri procession with folded hands keeps the spirit of the day.
Where is the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra, and what is its prasad?
It leaves the Jamalpur Jagannath temple in the old city on the same Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, called Ashadhi Bij in Gujarat, and is among the largest in India. Its prasad is sprouted moong with jamun, cucumber and pomegranate. The day is also the Kutchi New Year.
What is the ISKCON Rath Yatra?
ISKCON carries the festival around the world: since its first Rath Yatra in San Francisco, chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra roll through London, New York and hundreds of other cities with kirtan and free prasad. In India many cities hold an ISKCON Rath Yatra on or near the Puri date.
What happens before the Rath Yatra?
On Snana Purnima, the full moon of Jyeshtha, the deities are bathed with one hundred and eight pots of water and are said to fall ill. For about a fortnight (anasara) they stay out of sight, treated with herbal medicines, and the temple offers no darshan. They appear again, fresh and young, in the nava yauvana darshan just before the Rath Yatra.
Is there a fast or vrat katha for Rath Yatra?
No particular fast is prescribed for the day; it is a festival of seeing and serving the Lord. Many devotees eat only after the deities have mounted the chariots or after the home puja, and keep the food sattvik. The story told is the temple tradition of Jagannath given above.