Rath Yatra — the Chariot Festival — is one of the oldest and grandest religious processions in the world, held at Puri, Odisha, on the second day (Dwitiya) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Ashadha month. The presiding deity is Lord Jagannath — a unique form of Vishnu/Krishna venerated particularly in Odisha — along with his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra. The festival draws millions of devotees and has been celebrated at Puri for over a thousand years, referenced by travellers including Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo.

The Three Chariots

Three massive wooden chariots — freshly built from specific types of wood every year — carry the three deities from the main temple (Jagannath Mandir) to the Gundicha temple about two kilometres away, where they 'visit' for nine days before the return journey (Bahuda Yatra). The chariot names are: Nandighosa (Jagannath's chariot — 45 feet tall, 16 wheels), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra's — 44 feet, 14 wheels), and Darpadalana (Subhadra's — 43 feet, 12 wheels). Hundreds of thousands of devotees pull the chariots with thick ropes.

The Theology of Jagannath

Jagannath is remarkable in several ways. Unlike most Hindu deities, Jagannath has no clear caste distinction in His worship — the temple at Puri historically accepted worship from all communities. The distinctive form of Jagannath — large round eyes, no clear hands, dark body — is traced to the story of the divine image that emerged from a log of sacred Neem wood, which the divine carpenter Vishwakarma left unfinished when King Indradyumna opened the workshop prematurely. The unfinished form is venerated as perfect.

Rath Yatra in South India

While Puri's Rath Yatra is the most famous, smaller Rath Yatras are held at many temples across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Simhachalam Varaha Narasimha Swamy temple and several ISKCON temples in Hyderabad conduct Rath Yatras. South Indian families observe this occasion by visiting the local Jagannath or Vishnu temple, offering coconut and fruits, and reciting Vishnu Sahasranama. The day is also considered auspicious for beginning of charitable projects and new community initiatives.