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Rath Yatra 2015
July 18, 2015
Puri’s much-awaited festival – Rath Yatra commences on the 18th July, and will continue till 26th July. The festival is celebrated to mark Lord Jagannath’s yearly sojourn to his maternal aunt’s house. On the occasion, we bring you the details of the entire preparation and process of the festival.
Nabakalebara 2015
Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival, this year happens to be Nabakalebara (Naba-New and Kalebara- Body) that comes once in 15- 19 years and the last Nabakalebara happened in 1996. It’s the time when idols Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by a new set of idols at the Jagannath Temple in Puri which is also known as Shree Khetra.
Rath Yatra – The Rituals
The rituals of Rath Yatra start approximately 18 days before of the yatra. Lord Jagannatha, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Devi Subhadra are given famous ceremonial bath which is known as Snana Yatra. One day before Rath Yatra, the temple is cleaned by the devotees of Lord Jagannath. This ritual of cleaning the temple is known as ‘Gundicha Marjana’.
The new wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshan are welcomed to the temple with the great celebration. The new idols are carved and old ones are cremated with rituals mentioned in the century old scriptures.
The first step of yatra begins with Banajaga Jatra, wherein a group of Daitapatis proceed on this Jatra to locate and bring back the ‘Daru Brahma’ that would make the new bodies.
The Three Chariots
The chariots used during Rath Yatra are built every year. These are painted with bright colours and the tops are covered with red, black, yellow, or green canopies. Lord Jagannath uses red and yellow, while Lord Balaram uses red and green, and Goddess Subhadra uses red and black. All the chariots have different sets of wooden horses and wheels, which the chariots from one another.
Jagannath’s Chariot – Nandighosha
Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called as Chakradhwaja or Nandighosa, which means tumultuous and blissful sound. The specific features of Lord Jagannath’s Rath are – It is 45 feet tall, has 16 wheels, weighs 65 tons, has the Garuda on its crest along with four white wooden horses
Balabhadra’s Chariot – Taladhwaja
Lord Balaram’s cart is called Taladhwaja, which means the sound of significantly powerful rhythm. It comprises 14 wheels, and is drawn by four black wooden horses. It carries Hanuman on its crest.
Subhadra’s Chariot – Darpadalana
Goddess Subhadra’s cart is called Padmadhwaja or Darpadalan, which means destroyer of pride. It has a lotus on its crest, uses 12 wheels, and is drawn by four red wooden horses.
Gundicha Temple
The fourth day after Rath Yatra is celebrated as Hera Panchami when Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Jagannatha, visits Gundicha temple in the search of Lord Jagannatha. Hera Panchami should not be confused with Panchami Tithi as Hera Panchami is celebrated on the fourth day after Ratha Yatra and usually observed on Shashthi Tithi.
After resting eight days in Gundicha temple Lord Jagannatha returns to his main abode. This day is known as Bahuda Yatra or Return Yatra and is observed on the eighth day after Ratha Yatra on Dashami Tithi (if we don’t have any skipped or leaped Tithi during Lords’ stay in Gundicha temple). During Bahuda Yatra Lord makes a short stoppage at Mausi Maa Temple which is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.
It should be noted that Lord Jagannatha returns to his main abode just before Devshayani Ekadashi when he goes to sleep for four months.
http://focusnews.com/lifestyle/rath...d-to-know-about-the-nabakalebara-yatra/84189/
July 18, 2015
Puri’s much-awaited festival – Rath Yatra commences on the 18th July, and will continue till 26th July. The festival is celebrated to mark Lord Jagannath’s yearly sojourn to his maternal aunt’s house. On the occasion, we bring you the details of the entire preparation and process of the festival.
Nabakalebara 2015
Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival, this year happens to be Nabakalebara (Naba-New and Kalebara- Body) that comes once in 15- 19 years and the last Nabakalebara happened in 1996. It’s the time when idols Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by a new set of idols at the Jagannath Temple in Puri which is also known as Shree Khetra.
Rath Yatra – The Rituals
The rituals of Rath Yatra start approximately 18 days before of the yatra. Lord Jagannatha, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Devi Subhadra are given famous ceremonial bath which is known as Snana Yatra. One day before Rath Yatra, the temple is cleaned by the devotees of Lord Jagannath. This ritual of cleaning the temple is known as ‘Gundicha Marjana’.
The new wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshan are welcomed to the temple with the great celebration. The new idols are carved and old ones are cremated with rituals mentioned in the century old scriptures.
The first step of yatra begins with Banajaga Jatra, wherein a group of Daitapatis proceed on this Jatra to locate and bring back the ‘Daru Brahma’ that would make the new bodies.
The Three Chariots
The chariots used during Rath Yatra are built every year. These are painted with bright colours and the tops are covered with red, black, yellow, or green canopies. Lord Jagannath uses red and yellow, while Lord Balaram uses red and green, and Goddess Subhadra uses red and black. All the chariots have different sets of wooden horses and wheels, which the chariots from one another.
Jagannath’s Chariot – Nandighosha
Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called as Chakradhwaja or Nandighosa, which means tumultuous and blissful sound. The specific features of Lord Jagannath’s Rath are – It is 45 feet tall, has 16 wheels, weighs 65 tons, has the Garuda on its crest along with four white wooden horses
Balabhadra’s Chariot – Taladhwaja
Lord Balaram’s cart is called Taladhwaja, which means the sound of significantly powerful rhythm. It comprises 14 wheels, and is drawn by four black wooden horses. It carries Hanuman on its crest.
Subhadra’s Chariot – Darpadalana
Goddess Subhadra’s cart is called Padmadhwaja or Darpadalan, which means destroyer of pride. It has a lotus on its crest, uses 12 wheels, and is drawn by four red wooden horses.
Gundicha Temple
The fourth day after Rath Yatra is celebrated as Hera Panchami when Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Jagannatha, visits Gundicha temple in the search of Lord Jagannatha. Hera Panchami should not be confused with Panchami Tithi as Hera Panchami is celebrated on the fourth day after Ratha Yatra and usually observed on Shashthi Tithi.
After resting eight days in Gundicha temple Lord Jagannatha returns to his main abode. This day is known as Bahuda Yatra or Return Yatra and is observed on the eighth day after Ratha Yatra on Dashami Tithi (if we don’t have any skipped or leaped Tithi during Lords’ stay in Gundicha temple). During Bahuda Yatra Lord makes a short stoppage at Mausi Maa Temple which is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.
It should be noted that Lord Jagannatha returns to his main abode just before Devshayani Ekadashi when he goes to sleep for four months.
http://focusnews.com/lifestyle/rath...d-to-know-about-the-nabakalebara-yatra/84189/
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