Jagannath Rath Yatra 2019 jagannath puri rath yatra 2019
Once the ritual is complete, the new idols are seated on their throne. The old idols are taken to Koili Baikuntha and buried there in a sacred ceremony before dawn. It's said that if anybody sees this ceremony, apart from the priests who perform it, they will die. As a result, the state government orders a full blackout of lights in Puri on the night the ceremony is performed. Afterwards, the temple rituals recommence as normal. Flowers and new garments are given to the deities, food is offered, and pujas (worship) are performed.
Every year, three huge new chariots are made for the idols to be transported on during the festival. It's a very detailed process that takes place in public, at the front of the royal palace near the Jagannath Temple (read about the Rath Yatra chariot construction). Construction always commences on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. In 2019, it falls on May 7.
About 18 days before the Rath Yatra festival starts, the three idols are given a ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of water. This is known as Snana Yatra and it takes place on the full moon in the Hindu lunar month of Jyeshtha (known as Jyeshtha Purnima). In 2019, it falls on June 17. It's believed that the deities will get a fever after the bath. Hence, they're kept out of public view until they appear, renewed, on the new moon in Ashadha (known as Ashadha Amavasya). In 2019, it falls on July 2.
The occasion is called Navajouban Darshan.
The Rath Yatra is a community festival. People don't worship in their houses or fast.
When the gods return from their journey, they're decorated and adorned with ornaments of pure gold and given a nourishing drink, before being placed back inside the Jagannath Temple.
An entertaining comic scene is enacted for onlookers, as part of the grand finale. Goddess Lakshmi is angry that her husband, Lord Jagannath, has stayed away for so long without inviting or informing her. She closes the doors of the temple on him, locking him out. Finally, he manages to placate her with sweets, and she relents and lets him enter.
Interesting Information About Lord Jagannath
The idol of Lord Jagannath doesn't have any arms and legs. Do you know why? Apparently, it was carved out of wood by a carpenter after the Lord came to the King in a dream and instructed him to get the idol made. If anyone saw the idol before it was finished, the work would not progress any further.
The King became impatient and took a peek, and the idol remains incomplete. Some people say that Jagannath's imperfection expresses the imperfection all around us and that it's a reminder to be kind to those who are different from us.
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