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Ratha Yātrā · The Chariot Festival
Once every year in Āṣāḍha, three enormous chariots are pulled by hand through the Grand Road of Purī. Kings sweep the path. The Lord comes out to be seen by everyone.
The Three Chariots
Built anew every year,
from thousands of pieces of wood.
01
Nandighoṣa
Śrī Jagannātha
- Colour
- Yellow & Red
- Wheels
- 16
- Height
- 45 ft
- Horses
- 4 white
- Charioteer
- Dāruka
- Flag
- Trailokyamohinī
02
Tāladhwaja
Śrī Balabhadra
- Colour
- Blue & Red
- Wheels
- 14
- Height
- 44 ft
- Horses
- 4 black
- Charioteer
- Mātali
- Flag
- Uṇāni
03
Darpadalana
Devī Subhadrā
- Colour
- Black & Red
- Wheels
- 12
- Height
- 43 ft
- Horses
- 4 reddish
- Charioteer
- Arjuna
- Flag
- Nadambika
The Yātrā Calendar
A twelve-day festival
across the fortnight of Āṣāḍha.
Snāna Yātrā
Jyeṣṭha Pūrṇimā — the deities are bathed with 108 pots of scented water; they then fall 'ill' and go into isolation (Anavasara).
Netrotsava
Āṣāḍha Amāvāsyā — the eye-festival: after painting, the deities are once again revealed to devotees.
Gundicā Mārjana
The day before Ratha Yātrā — the Gundicā temple is cleaned by devotees; Śrī Caitanya famously led this seva every year.
Ratha Yātrā
Āṣāḍha Śukla Dwitīya — the three chariots begin their journey to Gundicā Ghar.
Herā Pañcamī
The fifth day — Lakṣmī, missing Her Lord, comes in search and reprimands Him.
Bahudā Yātrā
The return of the deities from Gundicā to the Śrī Mandir.
Suna Bēsha
The golden dress — the deities are adorned with 208 kg of gold ornaments.
Nīladri Bije
The final return into the sanctum; the Lord bribes Lakṣmī with rasagollā.