The Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the most ancient and spectacular festivals in India. It is celebrated every year in the city of Puri in Odisha, where millions of devotees gather to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, from their home temple to another temple called Gundicha, which is believed to be their aunt’s home.

The festival begins on the second day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashadh, which usually falls in June or July. On this day, the deities are taken out of their temple in a ceremonial ritual called Pahandi, where they are carried by priests on wooden platforms to their respective chariots. The chariots are massive wooden structures that are newly constructed every year by a team of carpenters who have inherited this skill from their ancestors.

The chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees who consider it a great honour and a way of attaining salvation. The king of Puri also participates in the festival by sweeping the road in front of the chariots with a golden broom, as a mark of humility and devotion. The procession covers a distance of about 3 km and takes several hours to reach the Gundicha temple. Along the way, the chariot of Lord Jagannath stops near the crematorium of a Muslim devotee named Salabega, who was a great admirer of the Lord and composed many poems in his praise. The Lord pays tribute to him by waiting for his prayer before moving ahead.

The deities stay at the Gundicha temple for seven days, where they are worshipped and offered various delicacies. On the eighth day, they begin their return journey, which is called Bahuda Yatra, meaning “the journey back”. On their way back, they stop at another temple called Mausi Maa, meaning “aunt’s mother”, where they are offered a special type of pancake called Poda Pitha, which is said to be their favourite. After reaching their home temple, they undergo a ritual called Suna Besha, where they are adorned with gold ornaments and jewellery. The next day, they re-enter their sanctum sanctorum and resume their normal worship.

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