It has always been a weekful of joyous devotional activities around the world for those who understand who Lord Jagannath is! Knowing that not all are fortunate enough to participate in regularly held religious festivals, and knowing that not all are intelligent enough to visit Temples, on this particular day, called the Rath yatra day, Sri Jagannath (meaning the Master of the Universe), along with His elder brother Sri Balaram and sister Srimati Subhadra Devi, and His invincible weapon, the Sudarshan Chakra, mercifully comes out in a grand manner to give His audience to literally millions of people during a week-long festival in Sri Jagannath Puri and many other holy places in India.
Not only in India, by the mercy of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, after the founder-acharya of ISKCON, more commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, introduced Ratha yatra in the west in 1968, this festival has become a common site for the citizens of all six continents today.
Historians know how, while ruling India, the British officers were baffled when they saw a massive human gathering, emerging practically from nowhere, pull the three gorgeous chariots in perfect harmony! More intriguing was the fact that in those days there were no communication devices that we see today. How and why they congregated in such a large number was the scaring question in their mind.
Lord Jagannath is an amazing person! To His devotees and to those sincerely seeking spiritual perfection, He is very easy to approach. Brahma-samhita confirms- vedeshu durlabham adurlabham atma bhakto govindam adi purusham tamaham bhajami- the Lord is extremely difficult to be approached by even the most learned persons but very easily available to His devotees. This is His causeless mercy.
One should not misunderstand Rath yatra as a mere traditional celebration. Almost all religious festivals, especially in India, have historical significance. Rath yatra is celebrated in memory of the day when Lord Krishna, along with His eternal associates, was lovingly pulled in a chariot from Kurukshetra to Vrindavan by His wonderful devotees, the gopis of Vraj, more than 5000 years ago. It is the joy of bringing our beloved Lord home.
Lakhs Of Devotees Participate In Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath
Devotees poured into the seaside town of Puri to watch the grand ceremony and pull the three majestic and colourful chariots on the ‘bada danda’, the grand avenue. Before the presiding deities – Lord Jagannath … occupied by thousands of people … Lakhs Of Devotees Participate In Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath
Odisha: Lakhs of people attend Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath at Puri
Devotees poured into the seaside town to watch the grand ceremony and pull the three majestic and colourful chariots on the ‘bada danda’, the grand avenue. Before the presiding deities – Lord Jagannath … road were occupied by thousands of people vying … Odisha: Lakhs of people attend Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath at Puri
Jagannath Rath Yatra – Unravel the Vacation of Gods
On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, begins the making of Rathas. Then, the most auspicious ceremony is the Ratha Yatra, where thousands of devotees pull three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to the Gundicha Temple. The three deities enter … Jagannath Rath Yatra – Unravel the Vacation of Gods
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