Ratha Yatra When the Lord comes out to meet his devotees

Ratha Yatra When the Lord comes out to meet his devotees

Odisha the land of diverse cultural heritage, celebrates numerous religious festivals round the year, which are typical to the particular region. The festivities are usually vibrant, marked by colourful processions, huge gatherings, and the entire region revels in a festive atmosphere. We list down a few popular festivals of Odisha.

Ratha Yatra When the Lord comes out to meet his devotees

This is an annual chariot festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, and is the biggest festival celebrated in the state, in terms of footfalls and following. The festival falls on the second day in bright fortnight of Aashaadha month, during June/July. RathaYatra is a symbol of universal brotherhood, in the sense that the Lord comes out in the streets to meet with people of all caste, creed and communities.

The CheraPahara ritual (sweeping the chariots of the Lord) conveys a strong social message that whether you are a king or a humble devotee – but for the Lord you are all equal.

The king or Gajapati, as he is known in Odisha, sweeps the chariots of the deities.

Construction of the chariots coincides with the start of the auspicious day of AkshayaTrutiya – the start of the new agricultural season.

The annual RathaYatra attracts millions of devotees from across the world, and gives a glimpse of the cult of Lord Jagannath.