Journey of the Divine: Divine Wheels in motion for the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024!

Lord Jagannath (middle), his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra

The Rath Yatra, an emblematic festival filled with devotion and tradition, celebrates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha. The Rath Yatra is a profound expression of Odisha's cultural heritage, drawing millions of devotees who partake in the pulling of the colossal and ornate chariots—a gesture symbolizing unity and faith.

This year, the grand procession takes place on July 7, 2024, marking a significant event in the Hindu calendar, observed on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Pakha (bright lunar fortnight) in the month of Ashadh. Owing to the “unique celestial arrangements”, this festival will be celebrated for 2 days straight this year; an event taking place after a span of 53 years.

Image from/by : Unsplash / Dibakar Roy

The devotion and fervour are not only limited to Puri, as the impression of the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri is carried out in various places of the nation and worldwide by devotees of Lord Jagannath.

The Rath Yatra is not merely a festival; it's a vibrant tapestry of faith, where the divine meets the earthly, and the echoes of chants and rhythms of devotion fill the air, reaffirming the sanctity of traditions and the spirit of inclusiveness that defines the essence of this ancient celebration.

||जय जगन्नाथ ||

||Jai Jagannath! ||