Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023 highlights: Chariots of the gods wend their way from Puri's temple

Governor Ganeshi Lal and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik symbolically started the mammoth car pulling exercise by pulling on the ropes connecting the principal Jagannath Chariot. Rhythmically beating brass cymbals and hand drums, priests surrounded the gods on the canopied chariots as the procession made its slow and serpentine way through the main street of this temple town.

One person died, while eight others were injured after a portion of a building collapsed in Ahmedabad's Dariapur during the 'Rath Yatra' procession.

See pictures from Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrations here: Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Thousands participate in the annual Hindu festival

On the occasion of her birthday, President Droupadi Murmu today visited Lord Jagannath temple and spent time with children and interacted with them at Kalyan Kendra in President's Estate and Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust in Delhi.

A tidal wave of humans pulled forward giant chariots of Jagannath, Lord of the Earth, and his two siblings on Tuesday from a 12th century stone temple in the heart of this sea-side pilgrimage town to their alternate abode aboput 2.5 kms away.

Every year as the famed Rath Yatra commences in Odisha's Puri, a man in Vadodara for the past nine years has been taking out a chariot procession of his own to commemorate the occasion.

Unlike the ancient Rath Yatras in Puri and the one in Gujarat's Ahmedabad where majestic chariots on which the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are pulled by a large number of devotees, the one organised by Jai Makwana uses a robot to power a motor chariot that carries an idol of Lord Jagannath.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee prayed for the victims of the Bahanaga Bazar rail disaster which claimed 292 lives, while inaugurating the annual Rath Yatra festival by ISKCON on Tuesday.

Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday met Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and sought his blessings on the occasion of the famed Jagannath Rath Yatra that began in Odisha's Puri.

Divya Singha Deb, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, on Tuesday ritualistically swept the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings, before they are ceremoniously pulled by devotees.

People gathered in large numbers in Puri to witness and take part in Jagannath Rath Yatra. Watch visuals

Bijay Mohapatra, the chief 'Biswakarma' (carpenter) of Lord Jagannath's 'Nandighosh' chariot having 16 wheels, said: "I have been engaged in chariot making for about four decades. I was trained by my father Lingaraj Mohapatra and he received training from my grandfather Ananta Mohapatra."

Famed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has to commemorate the auspicious occasion of the commencement of the Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri has created art on the Puri beach.

While the pahandi started at 9.30 am, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said the procession of deities will be completed by 12.30 pm while 'Chhera Panhara' (sweeping of chariots by golden broom) will be held between 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm. The chariots will be pulled at 4 pm.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik in his Twitter post said: "With the blessings of the Lord and your cooperation, let us pave the way for the development of New Odisha."

As Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath start their nine-day sojourn to their aunt's place at Gundicha Temple in Puri on Tuesday, the president, prime minister, Odisha chief minister and several other leaders greeted the people on the occasion of the Rath Yatra.

The three gigantic chariots are constructed every year afresh for the annual rath yatra, they are made by traditional carpenters with no formal training. 

"They have no manuals, architectural drawings or modern machines, but a group of craftsmen make gigantic and identical chariots for Lord Jagannath and his two siblings in Puri every year, using only traditional knowledge," says Sudarshan Mekap, the caretaker of the chariots.

On Jagannath Rath Yatra day, the price of 22-carat gold was recorded at ₹55,150/10 grams in Delhi, while ten grams of 24-carat gold were priced at ₹60,150. Check for your city here

While you will get all latest updates here, the Rath Yatra can be also watched when it will be telecast Live on DD-Bharati, DD-Odia, and other Doordarshan channels. The Rath Yatra can be viewed Live on Doordarshan's Youtube channel — https://www.youtube.com/DoordarshanNational

The highly anticipated Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is set to begin after the installation of the three deities on the beautifully adorned chariots. Lord Jagannath's chariot is known as Nandighosha, Lord Balabhadra's chariot is called Taladhwaja, and Goddess Subhadra's chariot is named Darpadalan. These magnificent chariots are pulled by a multitude of devoted individuals.

Dwitiya Tithi Begins June 19 - 11:25 AM

Dwitiya Tithi Ends June 20 - 01:07 PM

Rath Yatra 2023 End June 21 - 7:09 PM

In light of the ongoing ethnic violence, Manipur decided to forgo the traditional royal Rath Yatra procession this year. The region has witnessed a devastating loss of lives and a significant displacement of thousands of individuals.

Nonetheless, the associated rituals of the festival will be solemnly observed in various temples, albeit in a subdued manner.

Rath Yatra holds immense significance as one of the prominent Hindu festivals celebrated worldwide. This grand festival is deeply connected with Lord Jagannath at the sacred Shri Kshetra Puri Dham in Odisha, India. The rich history of Rath Yatra can be found in revered Hindu scriptures such as the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samhita.

The revered idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were ceremoniously placed on the chariot, marking the beginning of the traditional Rath Yatra. The grand procession commenced from the historic 400-year-old Jagannath Temple located in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad today.

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