Ratha Yatra
Ratha Yatra (/ˈrʌθə ˈjɑːtrə/), or chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot. They are held annually during festivals in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The term also refers to the popular annual Ratha Yatra of Puri. that involve a public procession with a chariot with deities Jagannath (Vishnu avatar), Balabhadra (his brother), Subhadra (his sister) and Sudarshana Chakra (his weapon) on a ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot.
| Ratha Yatra | |
|---|---|
Three chariots of the deities with the Temple in the background, Puri | |
| Also called | Ghosa Jatra |
| Observed by | Hindu |
| Type | Religious |
| Begins | Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya |
| Ends | Ashadha Shukla Dashami |
| 2023 date | 20 June |
| 2024 date | 7 July |
| 2025 date | 27 June |
| 2026 date | 16 July |
| Frequency | annual |
Ratha Yatra processions have been historically common in Vishnu-related (Jagannath, Rama, Krishna) traditions in Hinduism across India, in Shiva-related traditions, saints and goddesses in Nepal, with Tirthankaras in Jainism, as well as tribal folk religions found in the eastern states of India. Notable Ratha Yatras in India include the Ratha Yatra of Puri, the Dhamrai Ratha Yatra in Bangladesh and the Ratha Yatra of Mahesh. Hindu communities outside India, such as in Singapore, celebrate Ratha Yatra such as those associated with Jagannath, Krishna, Shiva and Mariamman. According to Knut Jacobsen, a Ratha Yatra has religious origins and meaning, but the events have a major community heritage, social sharing and cultural significance to the organizers and participants.
Western impressions of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri as a display of unstoppable force are the origin of the English word juggernaut.
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