Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2024

Ratha Yatra is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra and a few other names. In the words "Rath Yatra", rath means the Chariot and Yatra means travel or journey.There is a Sanskrit proverb "Rathe tu vamanam drishtwa punarjanmam na vidyate" which means a glimpse of the Vamana, the small form, an incarnation of Lord Jagannatha, is sure to ensure moksha that is release from the cycle of birth and death.

Rath Jatra is an occassion of the celebration of supreme divinity who has manifested himself in the Kali Yuga to emancipate humanity and to relieve them from their sufferings. Lord Jagannatha is Vishnu or Krishna. A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is truly auspicious one. It is said that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which the chariots are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages. The chariot, the wheels, the grand avenue all become one with Lord Jagannatha himself. For devotees, it is considered the most auspicious occasion when they are able to see the deities of the Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, derive the benefits of a thousand horse sacrifices, an extremely pious deed.

Here at Puri, Lord Jagannatha is worshipped along with his brother Balabhadra and his sister Devi Subhadra. Ratha Yatra celebrates Lord Jagannatha's annual visit to Gundicha Mata temple. King Indradyumna built the Puri Jagannatha temple and his wife Queen Gundicha was so much devoted towards Lord Jagannatha. To honour the devotion of Queen Gundicha, Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra leave their Dham in the main Jagannatha Puri temple and spend a few days in Gundicha Mata Temple in their honor. Gundicha Temple is cleaned by enthusiastic devotees of Lord Jagannatha one day before Ratha Yatra and this cleaning of Gundicha temple is known as Gundicha Marjanam or Marjan. Hera Panchami is the fourth day after Ratha Yatra celebrated when Goddess Lakshmi, wife of Lord Jagannatha, visits Gundicha temple searching Lord Jagannatha. Hera Panchami is not Panchami Tithi and it is celebrated on the fourth day after Ratha Yatra usually observed on Shashthi Tithi.

Lord Jagannatha returns to his main dham or Jagannath Puri Temple just before Devshayani Ekadashi when Lord Jagannatha goes to sleep for four months. Among people of foreign origin who visit the famous Jagannath Temple in Orissa, Ratha Yatra at Puri is also known as Puri Car Festival.

Rath Yatra 2024 Date

Rath Yatra 2024 Date - Sunday, July 7, 2024
Dwitiya Tithi Begins - 04:26 AM on Jul 07, 2024
Dwitiya Tithi Ends - 04:59 AM on Jul 08, 2024
Rath Yatra 2020 - Tuesday, June 23, 2020