Ratha Jatra

One of the majestic, gorgeous and grand festival in India is the festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha, which is popularly known as the Ratha Jatra. It is celebrated every year in Puri in the month of June or July. During the festival the presiding deities of the Sri Mandir Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, are taken out from the temple for the procession. On the grand day the three chariots the yellow coloured Nandighosa, blue coloured Taladwaja and Deviratha colourfully decorated are lined up in front of the temple and the respective idols are brought into the specific decorated chariots. Then the so called king of Puri washes and sweeps off the road with scented water and golden broom. After that the devotees pull the rope of the chariots on the Badadanda to Gundicha Ghar. The whole activities is a amazing sight. After a stay of seven days in the Gundicha Ghar the deities return to the main Mandir. The procession symbolises the journey of Lord krishna to Mathura leaving the Gopis.

Ratha Jatrra is undoubtedly the grandest procession in the earth where we can see decorated elephants, garlands, acrobats and gymnasts pilgrims on foot pushing each other to pull the rope. Devotees believe that while pulling the rope if you make any wish your wish will be full filled. And a sight of Jagannath in the charriot is considered to be the most auspicious.

The Ratha Jatra festival is a week long festival in Puri. Devotees from all over the world try to visit Puri during this time. Every year during the festival this city of Orissa becomes home to the millions of people. The beaches of Puri are another tourist attractions, washes off the penance of thousands of devotees every year.
It should mention here that the Ratha Jatra does not take place only in puri, similar processins are taken place in much smaller scale in other towns of India like, Ramnagar, Varanasi and in few more places.
If you can manage to attend the grand festival in puri it will be life time achievement, but make sure to book the hotels in advance to avoid rush.

In 2009 the Ratha Jatra is on 24th June.