Rath Yatra Nabha

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Ratha Yatra of Nabha
Ratha Yatra, Nabha.jpg
Nabha Rathayatra, 2015
Founded25 September 2014
Founded ByCommittee Mandir Thakur Shri Saty Narayan Ji
Abolished By ISKCON
Place Nabha, Punjab, India
OrganizerCommittee Mandir Thakur Shri Saty Narayan Ji

Ratha Yatra (Oriya: ରଥଯାତ୍ରା or Ratha Jatra or Chariot Festival) is a Hindu festival associated with the god Jagannath held at Mandir Thakur Shri Saty Narayan Ji in the Nabha City, state of Punjab, India. This annual festival is celebrated in the month of August or September. The festival commemorates Jagannath's annual visit to Nabha city.

Jagannath Hindu god, abstract form of Krishna

Jagannath literally means "Lord of the Universe" and is a deity worshipped in regional traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism in India and Bangladesh. Jagannath is considered a form of Vishnu. He is a part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. To most Vaishnava Hindus, Jagannath is an abstract representation of Krishna; to some Shaiva and Shakta Hindus, he is a symmetry-filled tantric representation of Bhairava; to some Buddhists, he is symbolism for Buddha in the Buddha-Sangha-Dhamma triad; to some Jains, his name and his festive rituals are derived from Jeenanath of Jainism tradition.

Nabha City in Punjab, India

Nabha is a historic city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. It was the capital of the former Nabha State.

Punjab, India State in Northern India

Punjab is a state in northern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast, Rajasthan to the southwest, and the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west. The state covers an area of 50,362 square kilometres, 1.53% of India's total geographical area. It is the 20th-largest Indian state by area. With 27,704,236 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Punjab is the 16th-largest state by population, comprising 22 districts. Punjabi is the most widely spoken and official language of the state. The main ethnic group are the Punjabis, with Sikhs (58%) forming the demographic majority. The state capital is Chandigarh, a Union Territory and also the capital of the neighbouring state of Haryana. The five tributary rivers of the Indus River from which the region took its name are Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Jhelum Rivers; Sutlej, Ravi and Beas are part of the Indian Punjab.

Contents

As part of Ratha Yatra, the deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a procession to Devi Chowk. Then the deities or Ratha Yatra starts and the Parikrama of the Nabha city. The return journey of Puri Jagannath Ratha Jatra is known as Bahuda Jatra.

Balabhadra illustrious men of Jainism

In Jainism, Balabhadra or Baladeva are among the sixty-three illustrious beings called śalākāpuruṣas that are said to grace every half cycle of time. According to Jain cosmology, śalākāpuruṣa are born on this earth in every Dukhama-sukhamāara. They comprise twenty-four tīrthaṅkaras, twelve chakravartins, nine balabhadra, nine narayana, and nine pratinarayana. Their life stories are said to be most inspiring. According to the Jain puranas, the Balabhadras lead an ideal Jain life.

Subhadra Character from Indian epic Mahabharata

Subhadra is a character in the Mahabharata written by Vyasa. She is worshiped as an incarnation of Goddess Yogmaya. In the epic, she is the sister of Krishna and Balarama, wife of Arjuna and mother of Abhimanyu and grandmother of Parikshit. She is the daughter of Vasudeva and Rohini Devi. Subhadra is known as Veera sodari, Veera Patni and Veera matha due to her relationship with Krishna, Arjuna and Abhimanyu respectively.

Prabhu Hari Kishore Joshi Holdin Lord Jagannath Prabhu Hari Kishore Joshi Holdin Lord Jagannath.jpg
Prabhu Hari Kishore Joshi Holdin Lord Jagannath

Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri called Badadanda. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt's temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises, such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over the world go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pull the Lords' chariots with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes. They consider this a pious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Ratha carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event; the chariots are built anew each year only from a particular type of tree. Millions of devotees congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad. It is also broadcast live on many Indian, foreign television channels as well as many of the websites telecast jagannath ratha yatra live. [1]

Ratha

Ratha is the Indo-Iranian term for a spoked-wheel chariot or a cart of antiquity. Its equivalent term in the Dravidian languages is taer.

Gundicha Temple building in India

Gundicha Temple, is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri. While it remains vacant most of the year, the temple is occupied by images of the deities of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra for seven complete days every year during the annual Rath Yatra festival.

Temple car

Temple cars are chariots that are used to carry representations of Hindu gods. The cars are usually used on annual festival days called 'Ther Thiruvizha', during which many people gather around.

Description

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Ratha Yatra 2

Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariot: Chariots of Shri Jagannath is celebrated every year at Nabha, the temple town in Punjab. The presiding deities of the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel (Sudarshana Chakra) are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to their chariot. The huge, colourfully decorated chariot is drawn by multitude of devotees on the Devi Chowk, the grand avenue and the main place of the Nabha City. After the ratha yatra deities return to their abode.

Sudarshana Chakra

The Sudarshana Chakra is a spinning, disk-like weapon, literally meaning "disk of auspicious vision," having 108 serrated edges used by the Hindu god Vishnu. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds a shankha, a Gada (mace) and a padma (lotus). While in the Rigveda the Chakra was Vishnu's symbol as the wheel of time, by the late period Sudarshana Chakra emerged as an ayudhapurusha, as a fierce form of Vishnu, used for the destruction of an enemy. In Tamil, the Sudarshana Chakra is also known as Chakkrath Azhwar.

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Nabha Ratha Yatra
Bhajan Mandli 2 Bhajan Mandli 2.jpg
Bhajan Mandli 2
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Jagannath Ratha Yaera Nabha

The Chariot

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Bhajan Mandli

The chariot of Balarama, Subhadra and Jagannatha is newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. They are customarily brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla by a specialist team of carpenters who have hereditary rights and privileges for the same. The logs are traditionally set afloat as rafts in the river Mahanadi. These are collected near Puri and then transported by road.

The chariot is decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Santoshi Mata Mandir, Duladdi Gate the Grand Avenue. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and blue colors, the huge chariot is lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance.

Lord Jagannatha's chariot is called Nandighosa. It is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krushna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.

The chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag.

The chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally "trampler of pride,” This chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth – black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess.

Around the chariot are nine Parsva devatas, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots' sides. Chariots is attached to four horses. These are of different colours – dark ones for Balarama, white ones for Jagannatha, and red ones for Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi. Descriptions of the Chariots

Examples

ISCON Rath Yatra, Kolkata 2015 in Kolkata. ISCON Rath Yatra, Kolkata 2015.jpg
ISCON Rath Yatra, Kolkata 2015 in Kolkata.
Dhaka Capital city in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh

Dhaka, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world, with a population of 18.89 million people in the Greater Dhaka Area. Dhaka is the economic, political and cultural center of Bangladesh. It is one of the major cities of South Asia, the largest city in Eastern South Asia and among the Bay of Bengal countries; and one of the largest cities among OIC countries. As part of the Bengal plain, the city is bounded by the Buriganga River, Turag River, Dhaleshwari River and Shitalakshya River. The city is located in an eponymous district and division.

Rathayatra of Mahesh

The Rathayatra of Mahesh is the second oldest rathayatra in the world and the oldest and biggest in Bengal, having been celebrated since 1396. It is held in Mahesh, a historical locality within Serampore City in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a week-long festival and a grand fair is held at that time. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes (Rosshi) attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra on the journey from the temple to Mahesh Gundicha Bari and back within 8th day.

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From right the Ratha of Lord Jagannath named Nandighosha, the Ratha of Goddess Subhadra named Darpadalana and the Ratha of Lord Balabhadra named Taladhwaja are parked outside the Gundicha Temple, Puri before the commencement of the Bahuda Jatra, Nabakalebara 2015.

Related Research Articles

Ratha Yatra (Puri) festival held at Puri

Ratha Jatra is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is the oldest Ratha Jatra taking place in India and the World, whose descriptions can be found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Skanda Purana and Kapila Samhita.

Puri City in Odisha, India

Puri is a city and a Municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Sri Jagannatha Dhama after the 12th-century Jagannatha Temple located in the city. It is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

Jagannath Temple, Puri Temple at Puri, Odisha, India

The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of lord Maha Vishnu, located on the eastern coast of India, at Puri in the state of Odisha. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

Nabakalebara

Nabakalebara is a symbolic recreation of the wooden forms of four Hindu deities at Jagannath Temple, Puri. In the cult of Jagannath, the ritual is performed during the eighth, 12th, or 19th year after the previous Nabakalebara.

Chandan Yatra

Chandana Yatra also known as Gandhalepana yatra is the longest festival observed at Jagannatha temple at Puri, India. Chandana Yatra meaning Sandalwood Voyage in Sanskrit, which continues for 42 days is observed in two parts: Bahara Chandana and Bhitara Chandana

Snana Yatra

The Snana Yatra is a bathing festival celebrated on the Purnima of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. It is an important festival of the Jagannath devotees. It is the birth day of lord Jagannath.This is the first occasion in the year as per the Hindu calendar, when the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Sudarshan, and Madanmohan are brought out from the Jagannath Temple (Puri) and taken in a procession to the Snana Bedi. There they are ceremonially bathed and decorated for a public audience with the devotees.

Mausi Maa Temple building in India

The Mausi Maa temple is situated at the mid-way of the Bada danda of Puri. It is a small temple dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.

Ratha-Yatra Hindu festival

Ratha Yatra, also referred to as Rathayatra, Rathajatra or Chariot festival is any public procession in a chariot. The term particularly refers to the annual Rathayatra in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other East Indian states, particularly the Odia festival that involve a public procession with a chariot with deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana Chakra on a ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot. It attracts over a million Hindu pilgrims who join the procession each year.

The Jagannath Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath in the city of Ahmedabad in the Gujarat state of India. The temple located in the Jamalpur locality was established by Sadhu Sarangdasji about 450 years ago. The temple is famous for its annual chariot festival, the Rath Yatra, which is the third most important and largest after the Ratha Yatra at Puri and Kolkata. The temple remains open for devotees from 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily.

Nabakalebara 2015

The Nabakalebara 2015 is a celebration of the ancient ritual of the Nabakalebara associated with most of the Jagannath Temples when the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by a new set of idols; the last such festival of events was held in 1996. It is a festival the period of which is chosen according to the Hindu Calendar conforming to the astrological planetary positions. The festival during 2015 involves several schedules, and it has started from 23 March with Banajaga Yatra and will conclude with Rathayatra followed Sunabesa on 27 July, with many other rituals being held in between on specific dates. More than 5 million devotees are expected to participate in these rituals held in and around the temple complex of the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha.

Suna Besha

Suna Besha, also known as Raja or Rajadhiraja besha or Raja Besha or Rajarajeshwara Besha, is an event when the Lord Jagannath and other deities Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra are adorned with gold jewelry. Suna Bhesha is observed 5 times during a year. It is commonly observed on Magha Purnima (January), Bahuda Ekadashi also known as Asadha Ekadashi (July), Dashahara (Vijyadashami) (October), Karthik Purnima (November), and Pousa Purnima (December). The name Suna Bhesha is derived from two words, 'Suna' meaning "gold" and 'Bhesha' meaning "costume".

Saty Narayan Ji Mandir, Nabha

The Saty Narayan Ji Temple in Nabha is a famous, sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and located on the North of India, at Nabha in the state of Punjab.

Satya Narayan (Hindu deity)

Satya Narayan is a deva form of Vishnu who is worshipped by Hindus, mainly in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Manipur and Tripura. His avatar is Krishna. Satya Narayan is part of a triad on the ratnavedi.

Jagannath Temple, Rayagada temple at Rayagada

Jagannath Temple, Rayagada, stands at the southern side of the town Rayagada. The temple was originally built more than 50 years back.

Hera Panchami is a ritual observed during the period of Rath Yatra in the Grand Jagannath Temple of Puri. It is known as a ritual of Goddess Lakshmi. The fifth day from Rath Yatra i.e. fifth day in bright fortnight of Ashadha is known as the Hera Panchami. During Ratha Yatra, lord Jagannath comes out on a divine outing with his brother Sri Balabhadra and sister Maa Subhadra along with his divine weapon Sri Sudarshana, leaving behind His wife Mahalaxmi. The Goddess expresses her anger for the Lord. She proceeds to the Gundicha Temple, the Adapa Mandapa in a palanquin in the form of a Subarna Mahalaxmi and threatens Him to come back to the temple at the earliest. To make Her pleased, the Lord concedes to Her by offering her agyan mala. Seeing the Goddess furious, the sevakas close the main door of the Gundicha. Mahalaxmi returns to the main temple through the Nakachana gate. In a unique ritual, the Goddess orders one of her attendants to damage a part of the Nandighosa chariot.This is followed by her hiding behind a tamarind tree outside the Gundicha Temple. After some time, she escapes to her home temple in secrecy, through a separate path way known as Hera Gohri Lane The unique ritual is enjoyed by lakhs of devotees of Lord Jagannath.

References

  1. ↑ ISKCON TRUTH Live broadcast Jagannatha Ratha Yatra festival throughout the day
  2. ↑ S Banerjee, Partha (2008). "Dussehra in Bastar -- a riot of colours - Economic Times". indiatimes.com. Retrieved 9 January 2013. The Bastar royal family figures prominently in the script and the props include a huge chariot that is first built, then ritually 'stolen', and then again recovered and pulled ceremonially through the streets of Jagdalpur
  3. ↑ "Tribals celebrate unique Dussehra in Bastar - Oneindia News". news.oneindia.in. 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2013. The another attraction of this 'tribal Dusshra', is a double- decked Rath (Chariot) with eight wheels and weighing about 30 tonnes.

Bibliography

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