Puri is the ideal destination for the pious traveler. It’s considered to be one of the holiest cities of India. Situated in the state of Orissa, the best time to visit Puri is during the Rath Yatra. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are the deities of the main temple in Puri. They undertake a symbolic journey on intricately decorated chariots during this festivity.
The procession of three chariots starts off from the main temple, the Sri Mandir, and terminates at the Gundicha temple located 2 miles to the north. The chariots are drawn by thousands of devotees who throng the cities of Puri during these days. It is believed that anyone who touches the chariots or the ropes attains salvation. Oriya folklore has it that the Supreme Lord Jagannath becomes one with the chariot and the ropes. Touching any of the two is like touching the Lord Himself.
The Rath Yatra procession returns to the Sri Mandir after 7 days. There is a grand occasion on that day as well. The journey is symbolic of the cycle of life and death. Traditionally speaking, the chariot and the venue are known to offer salvation to all devotees who make it to Puri on these festive days. It’s believed that Lord Yama, the God of Death, has no power over the city and His empire ends on the borders of the city. That is why the city is also called Yamanika Tirtha.
If you are planning to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra, you have to plan and book your tickets well in advance. There is a rush of thousands pouring in from all over the world. Lord Jagannath has global appeal, mainly due to the ISKCON organization. There is a dearth of places to stay if you don’t have prior registrations with hotels and lodges. Expect the prices to be steeper than it usually is. But it’s worth the effort!
Users who found this post were searching for:
puri rath, rath yatra 2012 pictures
Related posts:
[...] is our penultimate post on Orissa. Today we take you down to the Puri beach. The beach at Puri is often seen as the ideal destination for couples and families who want to make a short trip that [...]