Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Date and Time

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2023:

Jagannath Rath Yatra holds immense significance among Hindus. This day is considered to be one of the most important and auspicious. The festival of Jagannath Rath Yatra is celebrated on a grand level. A large number of devotees from across the country celebrate this festival with great zeal and enthusiasm. The festival of Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is mainly celebrated in the Puri state of Odisha state. This day is celebrated on Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha. This year, the festival of Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra will be celebrated on June 20, 2023.

                 

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Date and Time

Dwitiya Tithi Begins - June 19, 2023 - 11:25 AM

Dwitiya Tithi Ends - June 20, 2023 - 01:07 PM

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Significance

Jagannath Rath Yatra has great significance in the Hindu religion. This festival is dedicated to worshiping Lord Krishna along with elder brother Balbhadra and younger sister Subhadra. The celebration starts with Snana Purnima. The three chariots are the center of attraction during this festival. The Puri Jagannath Temple is decorated every year with different flowers, rangoli, and lights. The festival of Jagannath Puri was started in the 12th century. This temple is one of the oldest temples in India.

On this auspicious day, the idols of Balram, Jagannath, and Subhadra come out from the Puri Jagannath Temple. Devotees place the idols on big chariots. After that, they use thick ropes and are pulled by devotees all over the city. It is believed that by pulling the chariots, Lord Jagannath blesses the devotees with great happiness and prosperity, and these people get rid of all the obstacles and attain salvation.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Rituals

First, the chariots visit Gundicha Temple and stop at Mausi Maa Temple, where they are offered different types of food. The three chariots stay there for another 7 days and after staying there for seven days they again come back to the Jagannath Temple.

Before starting the rituals, three chariots are decorated with different styles and these chariots are carried out by priests. It is considered to be highly auspicious to pull the chariots. A large number of Lord Jagannath devotees pulled the chariots, clean the roads with brooms and sprinkle sandal itra everywhere, devotional songs are played and devotees dance and show their happiness and gratitude to Lord Jagannath.

Devotees clean the Gundicha Temple before reaching the chariots. Lord Jagannath's chariot is known as Nandighosha and has 16 wheels, Lord Balabhadra's chariot is known as Taladhwaja and it has 14 wheels and the chariot of Goddess Subhadra is called Darpadalan, which has 12 wheels. It is believed that Arjun becomes the Sarathi of Subhadra's chariots and it remains in between the two chariots.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: FAQs

1. When is Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023?
   
   
   Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is going to happen on June 20, 2023.
2. Why the idols of Lord Jagannath are incomplete?
   
   
   In anger, Lord Vishwakarma stopped his work on the idols and as a result, these idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra remained incomplete.
3. How many idols are there in Lord Jagannath Puri?
   
   
   These 3 idols in Lord Jagannath Puri Temple are Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
4. Why birds do not fly at the top of the Jagannath Temple?
   
   
   There is no scientific and specific reason for that but neither birds nor any plane travels above the temple. It is a mystery why does it happen.
5. When the idols are changed?
   
   
   Navakalevara is the ritual of recreating the wooden idols of four Hindu deities - Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshana at Jagannath Temple, Puri. The ritual is performed in the 8th, 12th, or 19th year.

Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA