Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Date, Time, Tithi And Significance

Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival, is one of the biggest and most prominent Hindu festivals, which draws devotees from all over the world.

The Rath Yatra celebration in Puri presents an awe-inspiring spectacle of the god being brought out of the temple amidst the resonating sounds of drums, bells, and conch shells.

Lord Jagannath, considered an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu has chosen this place as his abode in the temple town of Puri in Orissa, along the Bay of Bengal. This place is very popular because it is known as one of the four centres of Hindu pilgrimage or Char Dham.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Date, Time

This year, the Ratha Yatra celebrations will take place on 20 June 2023. The Dwitiya Tithi starts at 11:25 am on 19 June 2023 and Dwitiya Tithi ends at 01:07 pm on 20 June 2023.

Lord Jagannath will be taken out for the Ratha yatra on Tuesday, 20 June 2023 and this procession will start at 10.04 pm on this day. It will end on Saturday, 01 July 2023.

• Dwitiya Tithi Begins - 11:25 AM on Jun 19, 2023
• Dwitiya Tithi Ends - 01:07 PM on Jun 20, 2023

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: History And Significance

According to mythology, Lord Jagannath with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, visit the Gundicha temple every year as promised to Queen Gundicha, the wife of King Indradyumna, who built the Jagannath temple in Puri. The Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra leave their regular abode in the main temple and spend a few days in this temple built by Gundicha in their honor.

Therefore, a day prior to the Rath Yatra, Gundicha Temple is cleaned by devotees of Lord Jagannatha, and this popular ritual is known as Gundicha Marjana.

This fourth day after Ratha Yatra is observed as Hera Panchami when Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Jagannatha, visits Gundicha temple in search of Lord Jagannatha.

Lord Jagannatha rests for 5 days in Gundicha temple and then returns to his main abode. Like other days of Rath Yatra, this one too has special significance and is known as Bahuda Yatra or Return Yatra and it is observed on Dashami Tithi. Also, during this yatra, Lord Jagannatha stops at Mausi Maa temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.

It is also said that before this journey, Lord Jagannatha falls ill for the whole 15 days and rests in solitude. The doors of the Lord's room are also closed to visitors. After 15 days, when he gets well, Lord Jagannath goes on a yatra. This practice has been going on for ages.