Lord Jagannathrathyatra commences in Gujarat
- Category
History & Culture
- Published
19th Jul, 2021
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The 144th annual rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city.
Context
The 144th annual rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city.
About
About the JagannathRathYatra
- JagannathRathYatra is one of the biggest festivals in India.
- It is held at one of the Char Dhams – Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
- Deities:LordJagannath, Lord Balbhadra and LordessSubhadra.
Lord Jagannath
- Jagannath is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra and sister, deviSubhadra.
- Jagannath within Odia Hinduism is the supreme god, Purushottama.
- To most Vaishnava Hindus, particularly the Krishnaites, Jagannath is an abstract representation of Krishna.
- Sometimes as the avatar of Krishna or Vishnu, to some Shaiva and Shakta Hindus, he is a symmetry-filled tantric form of Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.
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- JagannathRathYatra is celebrated by worshipping Lord Jagannath (ruler of the world), his elder brother Balbhadra (Balaram) and sister Subhadra.
- Three giant wooden chariots are made of a kind of Neem tree for the deities for the yatra.
- The journey of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra began from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area.
- It started with 'PahindVidhi'- a symbolic ritual of cleaning the way for the 'raths' (chariots).
- It is the oldest RathaYatra taking place in India and the World, whose descriptions can be found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and SkandaPurana and KapilaSamhita.
Jagannath Temple, Puri
- The Jagannath Temple at Puri is among the most revered Vaishnava sites in India.
- The current temple was built by Anantavarman of the Chodaganga dynasty in the 12th century.
- The deities in the sanctum are associated with King Indrayumna of the Iksvaku dynasty, who was the nephew of Lord Ram.
- The Jagannath Temple celebrates 148 festivals annually, which includes 12 yatras, 28 upayatras and 108 ritualistic festivals.
- Among these the RathaYatra festival of Jagannath deva celebrated in the month of Asadha (June-July) is the most well-known one.
Temple architectures in India
1. Nagara Style
- Examples: KandariyaMahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh, Sun Temple at Modhera, Lakshman Temple of Khajuraho, Sun Temple at Konark, Jagannath Temple at Puri.

2. Vasara Style
- Examples: Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somnathpura
3. Dravidian Style
- Example: Chennakesava Temple in Belur, Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple in Somanathapura.

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