Summary of Puri Rath Yatra Festival
How the Rath Yatra Chariots are Made
The main feature of the Puri Rath Yatra festival, which happens in July every year in Odisha, is the towering temple-shaped chariots that carry the three deities from the Jagannath Temple. The chariots are an architectural marvel.
Moreover, what’s truly fascinating is the detailed process by which the chariots are newly made each year. It’s a labor of love for around 200 carpenters, helpers, blacksmiths, tailors, and painters who work tirelessly according to a strict 58-day deadline. The craftsmen don’t follow written instructions; instead, all the knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. Only one family of carpenters has hereditary rights to the construction of the chariots.
The process takes place in various stages, each coinciding with an auspicious festival on the Hindu calendar. Some of the main stages are elaborated below.
The Construction
Chariot construction takes place at the front of the royal palace near the Jagannath Temple in Puri. It commences on Akshay Tritiya, a particularly auspicious occasion in April or May. It’s widely believed that any activity started on this day will be fruitful. Consequently, it marks the beginning of Chandan Yatra, a 42-day sandalwood festival at the Jagannath Temple.
Before construction begins, temple priests gather to perform a holy fire ritual. Dressed in bright attire, the priests sing and carry garlands that are delivered to the chief carpenters. Notably, work on all three chariots begins and ends simultaneously. It starts with the wheels, which resemble the large, round eyes of Lord Jagannath. A total of 42 wheels are required for the three chariots. The wheels are affixed to the principal axles on the last day of Chandan Yatra, drawing devotees who come to pay homage.
The Decoration
Great care and attention are given to the decoration of the chariots, highlighting the superb craftsmanship of the artisans of Odisha. The wood is intricately carved with designs inspired by Odisha temple architecture. Furthermore, the frames and wheels of the chariots are colorfully painted with traditional designs. The canopies of the chariots are adorned with approximately 1,250 meters of intricately embroidered green, black, yellow, and red cloth. This dressing of the chariots is performed by a skilled team of tailors who also create cushions for the deities to rest on.
On the day before the festival commences, the chariots are dragged to the Lions Gate entrance of the Jagannath Temple. On the first day of the festival (known as Sri Gundicha), the deities are taken out of the temple and installed in the chariots.
What Happens to the Chariots After the Rath Yatra Is Finished?
Remarkably, the chariots are dismantled after the festival, and the wood is utilized in the kitchen of the Jagannath Temple, noted as one of the largest kitchens in the world. A stunning 56 types of mahaprasad (devotional food) are prepared there, utilizing earthen pots over fire, for offering to Lord Jagannath. The temple kitchen holds the capacity to cook for 100,000 devotees each day.
Chariot Details and Specifications
Each of the three chariots in the Puri Rath Yatra festival carries one of the deities from the Jagannath Temple. Each chariot is attached to four horses and has a designated charioteer. The details are as follows:
Lord Jagannath
- Chariot Name: Nandighosa
- Chariot Height: 45 feet, six inches.
- Number and Height of Wheels: 16 wheels measuring six feet in diameter.
- Chariot Colors: Yellow and red.
- Horse Color: White.
- Charioteer: Daruka.
Lord Balabhadra
- Chariot Name: Taladhwaja — meaning “one with the palm tree on its flag”.
- Chariot Height: 45 feet.
- Number and Height of Wheels: 14 wheels measuring six feet six inches in diameter.
- Chariot Colors: Green and red.
- Horse Color: Black.
- Charioteer: Matali.
Devi Subhadra
- Chariot Name: Debadalana — meaning literally, “trampler of pride”.
- Chariot Height: 44 feet, six inches.
- Number and Height of Wheels: 12 wheels, measuring six feet eight inches in diameter.
- Chariot Colors: Black and red.
- Horse Color: Red.
- Charioteer: Arjuna.
Significance of the Chariots
The temple-shaped chariots in the Puri Rath Yatra festival carry deep significance. The concept is elaborated in the holy text, the Katha Upanishad, which depicts the chariot as the body and the deity inside as the soul. Wisdom serves as the charioteer that controls the mind and its thoughts.
There’s a famous Odia song that conveys that the chariot merges and becomes one with Lord Jagannath during the festival. Simply touching the chariot or the rope that pulls it is believed to bring prosperity.
Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra
Furthermore, not only are the chariots in the Rath Yatra festival made of wood, but the three deities (Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra) are carved from wood as well. They are hand-carved roughly every 12 years in a process known as Nabakalebara. This means “new body.” The festival gains added importance on the years when this event occurs, with the last Nabakalebara ritual taking place in 2015.
(Note that the image is representational, and is not of the actual Jagannath Temple idols).
