Rathayatra
ISKCONAlso known as: Rath Yatra, Jagannath Chariot Festival
Rathayatra
About Rathayatra
The Ratha Yatra is the grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra, held annually in Puri, Odisha. The three Deities are placed on enormous wooden chariots and pulled through the streets by hundreds of thousands of devotees.
The significance of Ratha Yatra is profound - it represents the Lord's journey from the temple into the streets so that even those who cannot enter the temple can receive His mercy.
Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON, established the Ratha Yatra festival in over 100 cities worldwide, beginning with San Francisco in 1967.
Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules
This is primarily a celebratory festival rather than a fasting observance.
- Rise early and bathe before attending the festival.
- Participate in pulling the chariot with devotion.
- Chant the Holy Names loudly as the chariots move through the streets.
- Distribute and accept Mahaprasadam throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Jagannath is Lord Krishna, Baladeva is His elder brother Balarama, and Subhadra is their younger sister.
The wooden Deities (Darubrahman) are a unique manifestation, carved from a specific neem tree as instructed by Lord Vishnu.
Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.
Recommended Pages
Comprehensive annual Hindu calendar with tithis and festivals.
Detailed month-wise view of lunar tithis and celestial events.
Marathi Panchang and festive dates for the year.
Gujarati Vikram Samvat calendar and festivals.
Telugu calendar and festive Panchangam details.
Tamil solar calendar dates and monthly Panchangam.