The Significance Of Puri Rath Yatra That Draws So Many Devotees

By Author: Dinesh Dash
Total Articles: 39
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Not just our state but also the whole country and people across the globe are eagerly waiting for the famous Rath Yatra to happen this year in Puri. Given the preparations done for this grand festival, many people couldn’t help but get mesmerized by the massive significance of this grand chariot event. Many people are also keen to know the magnificence of Rath Yatra and why so many devotees flock to Puri to see this massive event.

Well, the festival kicks start from the 2nd day of Ashada month. Idols of Lord Jagannath, enshrined in the Shri Mandi of Puri with this elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are taken out on the Bada Danda on 3 different chariots to the Gundicha Mata Temple.

The chariort festival is also popularly known as Navadina Jatra, Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra and in many other names. Gundicha is assumed to the queen of the Kinf Indradumna who was the creator of Puri Jagganath temple. It’s supposed that the Lord was pleased with the queen’s prayer and offered a blessing to her, assuring to visit her place one time a year for a few days; stay. Later the abode of Queen Gundicha turned ...
... into a shrine. It’s gorgeously made on the lines of the Kalinga style of architecture.

The value of the Chariot Festival is huge for a person, who believes in god and final liberation. It’s assumed that anybody who pulls the rope affixed to the Rath of the deities gets the merit of several penances.
Another unique aspect of the chariot festival is that non-Hindus & foreigners are permited to visit the Gundicha Temple to behold the gods & even partake in the offerings.

It’s assumed that the sight of Lord Jagannath & his brother and sister at Gundicha Temple can’t go vain; it confers the blessing of a hundred horse sacrifices, which only the luckiest kings had the honor to perform in the olden days.

Char Dham as defined by Sri Adi Shankaracharya are the 4 abodes of divinity namely Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, and Rameswaram. A trip to these sites of revered pilgrimages of India is considered as a religious fulfillment to every Hindu. And if you are in Puri, witnessing the Rath Yatra is a must. Luckily you can avail affordable Puri Rath Yatra Tour Package offered by many tour operators in Odisha. If you are not sure where to look for pocket-friendly Puri Holiday Packages, please search online and hopefully you will come up with so many options.