Rath Yatra
Description:
The chariot of God Jagannatha
Rath Yatra (lit. "chariot parade"), the annual religious festival of the removal of the god Jagannath (one of the forms of Krishna-Vishnu) from the temple on a giant chariot. It is celebrated in the month of Ashadha (June-July). The main place of the holiday is the temple of Jagannath in the city of Pune, located near Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa.
Rath Yatra symbolizes the journey of God Krishna from Gokul to Mathura.
According to legend, the god Jagannath once expressed his desire to visit his birthplace “Gundicha Ghar” every year.
According to another legend, his sister Subhadra wanted to visit Dwaraka, her parents' home, so her two brothers Jagannath and Balarama took her there that day.
According to the Bhagavata Purana, on this day Krishna and Balarama went to Mathura at the invitation of King Kansa to participate in the competition.
On the day of the journey, three huge chariots, one yellow and two blue, stop in front of the temple and statues of Jagannath, his brother Balarama and Subhadra’s sister are placed in their respective chariots. Hundreds of people harness themselves to chariots and drive them across the city. The chariots of the deities are followed by smaller chariots, special platforms with pilgrims, acrobats and gymnasts. The holiday is usually attended by more than 200 thousand people.