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Rath Yatra is celebrated by the Hindus
Rath Yatra is celebrated in the month of June
Significance
Rath Yatra is the grand journey of lord Jagannath along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. This yatra starts from the main Gundicha temple; here they stay for 9 days. The mammoth wooden Rath carrying three holy deities is pulled by thousands of devotees. This yatra begins in the month of Ashadh and on the 2nd day. This yatra is also well-known as the car festival. This festival commemorates the journey of lord Krishna from Gokul to his birth place Mathura. This yatra also indicates the journey from dark to light. This festival lasts for nine days and is also well-known as the Gundicha Jatra, Navadin Jatra, Ghosa Jatra and Dasavatara Jatra and this is very auspicious occasion for thousands of devotees. The purity of this festival is such that people believe that even a touch of the rath or the rope that is pulled is considered holy and serves as apology for ages.
There are new rath's made every year with a special type of wood from a specified trees such as phassi and dhausa. These raths are designed and decorated in a very unique form that are arranged and followed in the same manner for centuries on Bada Danda. These raths are covered with bright color cloth and are lined across the wide street that comes in front of the temple that is close entrance known as the Lion's gate.
The lord Jagannath rath is called Nandighosa and the rath is 45 ft high and 45 ft square. This rath has 16 wheels and each wheel has a diameter of 7 foot. Lord Balabhadra rath is called Taladhwaja and this is one with palm tree on its flag. This rath has 14 wheels and diameter is same as that of Nandighosa. This rath is covered with red and black cloth. The rath of Subhadra is called as the Dwarpadalna and this is the 'trample of pride' this is 43 ft high and has two wheels. This rath is covered with red and black cloth. Black color is connected with Shakti and mother goddess.
Celebration of Rath Yatra
This celebration starts with 'rath prathistha' in the morning and the most interesting part of this yatra is the Rath Tana that is pulling of the rath, this begins in the afternoon. There are thousands of people who wish to pull this rath or just touch the rope that is pulling the rath. People use to throw themselves into the 16 wheel of the rath as they use to believe that if a person dies under the wheels of the rath will directly go to heaven. On this day the temple authorities cook food for the devotees and everyone gets to enjoy the Mahaprasadam.
Traditional food
On this auspicious occasion there are many such dishes that are prepared. All these dishes are mouth watering and delicious. The traditional dishes that are prepared are as follows poda pitha, sabur bora, khichuri and makhane ki kheer.
Devotees from all over the country come to visit this yatra and participate in the pulling of the rath. This festival is celebrated with great pomp in India.
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