Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018: History, Significance and all you need to know

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018: History, Significance and all you need to know

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018: The nine-day annual festival of Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the biggest and and widely-celebrated festivals of India wherein millions of devotees arrive at the Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri to participate in the yatra processions and seek blessings of Lord Jagannath. 

The chariot festival began today amid tight security arrangements with lakhs of devotees congregating in the pilgrim town to witness the grand event. 

According to the Hindu Lunar Calender, the festival is celebrated in Ashadh Sud 2, an auspicious day which is also known as Ashad Shukla Dwitiya, which generally falls in early July. 

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018: When will Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra begin?

The Jagannath Rath Yatra began today amid tight security. Ulta Ratha or Bahuda Jatra or return car will take place on July 23. 

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018: Significance of this grand nine-day annual festival 

The nine-day annual festival of Jagannath Rath Yatra commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baldev, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt's place, the Gundicha Temple. It is believed that anyone who gets to pull their cart on way is bestowed with the benediction of washing away all the sins they may have committed in all their previous births. 

Lord Jagannath travels in Nandighosha, Goddess Subhadra in Taladhwaja and Lord Balabhadra in Devadalana chariot. These chariots are pulled by hundreds of devotees by big ropes, and take hours and even days to reach the destination.