Rath Yatra also known as Gundicha Yatra is an annual event dedicated to Bhagwan Jagannath (Bhagwan Krishna).
Rath Yatra is held in Puri, Odisha and is considered as the biggest chariot festival in the world. On the Rath Yatra, Bhagwan Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and his beloved sister Subhadra go to their aunt's place with great pomp on three chariots every year which starts from
Jagannath Temple Puri. It is celebrated on the 'Dwitiya' (second day) during 'Ashadha Shukla Paksha'. In 2022, Jagannath Rath Yatra is starting from Friday, 01 July.
Rath Yatra Festival 2022 Ritual Date:
The initial rituals of
Rath Yatra begin from Akshaya Tritiya; The main chariot festival starts from Shree Gundicha Yatra and ends at Bahuda Yatra. The last ritual of this auspicious journey is Neeladri Bije.
◉ Snana Yatra: Tuesday, 14 June
◉ Netro Utsav: Wednesday, 29 June
◉ Gundicha Yatra
(Rath Yatra starts): Friday, 01 July
◉ Hera Panchami: Tuesday, 05 July
◉ Sandhya Darshan: Friday, 08 July
◉ Bahuda Yatra: Saturday, 09 July
◉ Suna Besha: Sunday, 10 July
◉ Adhara Pana: Monday, 11 July
◉ Niladri bije: Tuesday, 12 July
Jagannath literally means
'Bhagwan of the Universe' and is a deity worshiped in the regional traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism in India and Bangladesh. Jagannath is considered a form of Vishnu by Hindus. The idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are usually worshiped in the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath temple, but once a year in the month of Ashadha, they are brought to the Gundicha temple in three huge chariots to travel three kilometers, which They are drawn by hundreds of devotees.
Which other cities also observe the Rath Yatra 2022 Festival?
Rath Yatra festivities take place in other parts of the world like the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Radha Rani Rath Yatra, Radha Madhav Dham Temple near Austin in Texas, San Francisco and California in USA and many other places. But Puri is the oldest and grandest. Since the late 1960s, due to the promotion of the Hare Krishna movement (
ISKCON), Rath Yatra festivals have taken place in many cities around the world.
The popularity of this Hindu festival is growing by the followers of Bhagwan Jagannath religions, who participate in the festivities to seek the blessings of
Bhagwan Jagannath.
