Rath Yatra

 Ten Interesting Facts About the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri:

1. Three different chariots are built for Balram, Lord Krishna, and Goddess Subhadra for the Puri Rath Yatra. Balramji's chariot leads, followed by Goddess Subhadra's chariot in the middle, and at the end is Lord Jagannath's chariot. These are distinguished by their colors and heights.

2. Balramji's chariot is called 'Taladhwaj,' which is red and green. Goddess Subhadra's chariot is called 'Darpadalan' or 'Padma Rath,' which is black or blue and red, while Lord Jagannath's chariot is called 'Nandighosh' or 'Garudadhwaj,' which is red and yellow.

3. Lord Jagannath's Nandighosh chariot is 45.6 feet tall, Balramji's Taladhwaj chariot is 45 feet tall, and Goddess Subhadra's Darpadalan chariot is 44.6 feet tall.

4. All chariots are made from sacred and mature neem wood, known as 'daru.' Healthy and auspicious neem trees are identified for this purpose by a special committee formed by the Jagannath Temple.

5. No nails, thorns, or other metals are used in the construction of these chariots. The selection of wood begins on Vasant Panchami, and the construction starts from Akshaya Tritiya.

6. Once the three chariots are ready, a ritual called 'Chhera Pahanra' is performed. During this, the King of Puri arrives in a palanquin, formally worships the chariots, and cleans the chariot area and path with a golden broom.

7. The Rath Yatra begins on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of the Ashadha month. Amid the sound of drums, trumpets, and conch shells, devotees pull these chariots. It is said that those who get the opportunity to pull the chariots are considered very fortunate.

8. The Rath Yatra starts from the Jagannath Temple, passes through Puri, and reaches the Gundicha Temple. Here, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra rest for seven days. The darshan of Lord Jagannath at the Gundicha Temple is called 'Aadap Darshan.'

9. The Gundicha Temple is also known as 'Gundicha Bari.' It is considered the house of the Lord’s aunt. According to legend, it is believed that the divine sculptor Vishwakarma constructed the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra here.

10. On the tenth day of the Ashadha month, all the chariots return to the main temple. This return journey of the chariots is called the 'Bahuda Yatra.'