Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Interesting Facts About The Rath Yatra Chariots

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Rath Yatra of Puri Jagannath, is something whose influence and memories stay on for this life and beyond.

The huge sturdy chariots that carry the Lord are a vision to behold and charm the devotee out of their wits with their grace and loveliness.

They are important landmarks and parts and parcels of our cultural journey. Here are some of the interesting facts about the Jagannath Rath Yatra.

Jagannath Yatra is world's largest chariot procession. It is based on a uniquely designed plan that decides how it should be celebrated.

Every year, every yatra, the chariots are built from the scratch and it takes the effort of 1400 carpenters to bring it to the final shape.

They are built with such precision that they do not require tapes to measure them inch by inch. The ancient technique which the carpenters have mastered helps them to measure it using hands and fingers

This is a secret that has come down along the generations, that is not divulged to the general public.
Every time the rath yatra completes its pradakshina of the temples around, it heavily rains.

Probably this is the way of heavens to express their happiness over the event. There has not been a single yatra without a downpour every time As per records.

The huge heavyweight chariots that roll on the ground with such grace have inspired the British to name it as "Juggernaut" in English. Jagannath acquired this name during one such rath yatra during colonial rule.

The chariots are built to look like temples especially at the top which resembles very closely the North Indian temple structures.

About 1,200 m of clothes are used to make the canopies of the chariots which are stitched by15 tailors.

Before the rath yatra begins, the king of the royal clan sweeps the floor of the chariot and proves that all are equal in the eyes of God.

Surprisingly, the chart does not move the moment it is given a push. It is only after hours of festivities and rituals, that it makes up its mind to move.

Till then, even if a team of thousand people try pushing it at once, the Rath refuses to respond.

Jagannath Rath Yatra welcomes about 4-5 lakh pilgrims from all over. Here are some of the highlights of the yatra or procession.

During the nine days of rath yatra, Lord Jagannath visits Gundicha temple and Mausi Maa temple along with his siblings.

The chariots look like temples being drawn on the streets of Badananda in Puri

It is only on this day that the non-hindus and foreign devotees are given a chance to visit the temple as they are not allowed on the other usual days.

The entire procession exudes a divine feel, and vibrations that gain in intensity as the sankeertans accompanied by drums, trumpets, and other instruments, hit a brain-blasting crescendo.

This is a festival in which devotees take the lead role in drawing the chariot using ropes to the Gundicha temple which is 3 km away from the main temple.

The richness of the Odian cultural heritage comes to life here.

When the chariots return, they are dismantled used as fuel in the kitchen. The three chariots are built every year much before the rath yatra begins.

In the construction of chariots, not even a single nail is used. This is the very interesting fact about the event.