Jagannath Ratha Yatra: Festival of Chariots & Legacy

Discover the grand Jagannath Ratha Yatra, an ancient festival of chariots celebrating divinity, unity, and tradition. Explore its rituals and global impact.

The Jagannath Ratha Yatra Info

Ratha Yatra

The Festival of Chariots

An ancient and spectacular procession where the Lord of the Universe emerges from the temple to greet all of humanity, regardless of caste or creed. This infographic explores the key elements of this grand celebration.

The Divine Trinity

At the heart of the festival are three deities with unique, abstract forms carved from sacred neem wood, representing profound theological concepts rather than simple physical likeness.

LORD JAGANNATH

Lord of the Universe

⚫

Identified by his **black color** and large, **circular eyes**, symbolizing divine ecstasy and eternal vigilance.

LORD BALABHADRA

The Elder Brother

⚪

Distinguished by his **white color** and **almond-shaped eyes**, representing strength and righteousness.

GODDESS SUBHADRA

The Sister

🟡

Recognized by her **yellow color** and **oval eyes**, embodying divine feminine energy (Shakti).

Anatomy of the Grand Chariots

Each year, three colossal chariots are built anew. These are not mere vehicles but mobile temples, each with distinct specifications that reflect the deity it carries. The chart below compares their key structural metrics.

The Sacred Journey: A Ritual Timeline

Snana Yatra (Bathing Festival)

Two weeks before the main event, the deities are publicly bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water, after which they enter a 15-day seclusion period to recover from a symbolic "fever."

Gundicha Yatra (The Procession)

The main event. The deities emerge, are placed on their chariots, and are pulled by thousands of devotees along the 3km "Bada Danda" (Grand Avenue) to the Gundicha Temple.

Hera Panchami

On the fifth day, a displeased Goddess Lakshmi (Jagannath's consort) visits and symbolically damages his chariot out of anger for being left behind.

Bahuda Yatra (The Return)

After a seven-day stay, the deities begin their return journey to the main temple, mirroring the grandeur of the first procession.

Suna Besha (Golden Attire)

Upon returning, the deities are adorned with massive, solid gold ornaments while still on their chariots, a spectacular vision that draws millions.

Festival by the Numbers

1,100+

Logs of Wood Used

4,000+

Distinct Wooden Pieces

1,250

Meters of Cloth for Canopies

3 km

Journey to Gundicha Temple

Global Legacy

The Original "Juggernaut"

The festival's overwhelming scale so impressed early European observers that "Jagannath" was anglicized into **"juggernaut,"** entering the English language to mean a huge, powerful, and unstoppable force.

From Puri to the World

Once a regional festival, the Ratha Yatra is now a global phenomenon, celebrated in major cities across the world.