Jagannatha Rath Yatra 2024: Date, history, significance and ritual; all you need to know

Jagannatha Rath Yatra 2024: Date and time

The 2024 Jagannatha Rath Yatra will begin on July 7, with the arrival of Dwitiya Tithi at 4:26 AM.

Jagannatha Rath Yatra 2024: History and Significance

The Jagannatha Rath Yatra festival began with estimates ranging from the 12th to 16th centuries. Stories and myths surround its origins. Some say it represents Lord Krishna’s visit to his mother’s birthplace. Others believe it started with King Indradyumna, who supposedly set up the rituals.

Historical documents show the festival became more important during the rule of Odisha’s Gajapati kings. Over the centuries, the Jagannath Rath Yatra has changed and grown, but its core purpose has remained the same. It’s a powerful symbol of Odisha’s rich culture and the deep faith of millions.

Greetings on the start of the sacred Rath Yatra. We bow to Mahaprabhu Jagannath and pray that His blessings constantly remain upon us. pic.twitter.com/lMI170gQV2

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 7, 2024

At the heart of the Jagannatha Rath Yatra lies the symbolic journey of three deities: Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra. These deities are believed to emerge from the confines of the Jagannath Temple in Puri and embark on a nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 kilometres away.

Jagannatha Rath Yatra 2024: Rituals

The Jagannatha Rath Yatra unfolds in captivating rituals, each steeped in symbolism and tradition. A day before the grand procession, the deities undergo a ceremonial bath (Rath Snana) involving 108 pots of aromatic water and sacred items, signifying their purification before the journey. This is followed by the Rath Pratistha (Consecration of the Chariots), where priests chant mantras and bless the newly built chariots, transforming them into vessels for the divine journey. The pinnacle of the Yatra arrives with the Rath Yatra (Chariot Procession). Thousands of devotees throng the streets, chanting hymns and brimming with fervour as they pull the majestic chariots towards the Gundicha Temple. Here, the deities reside for nine days, allowing devotees to seek their blessings. After this sojourn, the Bahuda Yatra (Return Journey) sees the deities return to the Jagannath Temple in a similar procession filled with joyous celebration. The Yatra culminates with Niladri Vijaya, the dismantling of the chariots, symbolising the conclusion of the divine journey and the promise of its renewal in the year to come.