Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Mayapur
Ratha-yatra celebrations in Mayapur
One of the major festivals in Sri Mayapur’s busy calendar is surely Jagannath Ratha Yatra – A “Festival of the Heart”. The Lord of the Universe comes out of His temple to give His audience to one and all.
At the Jagannath Mandir at Rajapur, The Deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Maharani were carefully placed on Their respective chariots, accompanied by loud kirtan by the PandavaSena Youth Group and Mayapur’s best kirtaniyas. As Lord Jagannath is moved several devotees beat metal gongs in unison. The effect is hair-raising and ear-splitting!
The procession was headed by a variety of floats on which various scenes from the Vaisnava scriptures were depicted by performing artists. They showed great determination to maintain their poses for the entire duration of the procession! Amidst the floats were dancers from various groups, including a group of dancing girls who performed a dance with sticks as they twirled around “Radha” and “Krsna”. A group of drummers lead a marching band as they all played on little bamboo flutes. Mayapur’s two residents elephants also joined the Festival parade and as always drew the attention of the locals. A bullock-cart ferried a group of devotees along the route. The combination of all these floats, dancers, vibrant kirtan as well as the devotees dressed in their bright and colourful Festival dress made the procession an exhilarating experience to tantalize the senses!
At regular intervals, Lord Jagannath was offered a full arati by the pujaris. Wafts of incense-smoke rose slowly into the cool Mayapur air as onlookers watched the worship with rapt attention. Devotees also came forward with abundant offerings of bhoga. Jackfruit, mango, litchi, sandesh and sweet-rice seemed to flow in an endless stream to be offered at Jagannath’s lotus feet. Then the maha-prasadam was distributed amongst the very happy, dancing devotees. What was most inspiring to see was that everybody who joined the procession, be he devotee or not, received Lord Jagannath’s mercy in some way or another…
The dancing of the devotees in this year’s Festival was especially attractive to the eye and pleasing to the heart. Simply by watching them, anybody would be inspired to join in and dance. The dancing wasn’t stiff and rigid, but rather carefree and spontaneous. Devotees danced without inhibition. This was their offering for the pleasure of their Lord Jagannath…The separation the devotees had felt whilst Lord Jagannath was recovering from His cold after Snana-yatra was tangible, as expressed in their happily dancing and chanting before His chariot. The Lord of their heart was again visible to their eyes!
As the chariots moved slowly along Bhakti SiddhantaMarga, onlookers, who gazed upon Lord Jagannath’s lotus face were handed maha-prasadam by smiling devotees. At various intervals there were water and juice-stands were friendly devotees distributed much-appreciated thirst-quenchers.
Many people also got the opportunity to touch the rope of the chariots, and a fortunate number also got to pull the ropes. Fortunate souls indeed… Why? The pulling of the chariots is not simply a procession from Rajapur to Mayapur CandrodayaMandir, but there is a deeper meaning behind it… The Jagannath Ratha Yatra Festival has its roots in Jagannath Puri. There, the three chariots carrying Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra are pulled from Jagannath Mandir to the GundicaMandir. This Jagannath Ratha Yatra Festival is a re-enactment of the first Ratha Yatra. This took place 5000 years ago, when the residents of Vrndavan pulled Jagannath, Baladev and Subhabra-devi from Kuruksetra to Vrndavana.
At the Rajapur’s Sri Jagannatha Temple, Their Lordships getting dressed in nice outfits and adorned with beautiful ornaments and flower garlands. Amidst a roaring kirtan and in big procession, They are seated on three different chariots. They come to Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir and shower their blessings there for the next seven days. Sometimes even a small chariot with Jaganntha, Baladev, and Subhadra Mayi deities comes in front, pulled by the children. Jagannatha-astaka is recited and wonderful kirtan accompanies the chariots.
Every evening, during the seven days of a festival, lamps are offered to Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and all the ladies blissfully serve Lord Jagannatha by offering a nice bhoga they prepare daily for pleasure of the Lord.
One of the major festivals in Sri Mayapur’s busy calendar is surely Jagannath Ratha Yatra – A “Festival of the Heart”. The Lord of the Universe comes out of His temple to give His audience to one and all.
At the Jagannath Mandir at Rajapur, The Deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Maharani were carefully placed on Their respective chariots, accompanied by loud kirtan by the PandavaSena Youth Group and Mayapur’s best kirtaniyas. As Lord Jagannath is moved several devotees beat metal gongs in unison. The effect is hair-raising and ear-splitting!
The procession was headed by a variety of floats on which various scenes from the Vaisnava scriptures were depicted by performing artists. They showed great determination to maintain their poses for the entire duration of the procession! Amidst the floats were dancers from various groups, including a group of dancing girls who performed a dance with sticks as they twirled around “Radha” and “Krsna”. A group of drummers lead a marching band as they all played on little bamboo flutes. Mayapur’s two residents elephants also joined the Festival parade and as always drew the attention of the locals. A bullock-cart ferried a group of devotees along the route. The combination of all these floats, dancers, vibrant kirtan as well as the devotees dressed in their bright and colourful Festival dress made the procession an exhilarating experience to tantalize the senses!
At regular intervals, Lord Jagannath was offered a full arati by the pujaris. Wafts of incense-smoke rose slowly into the cool Mayapur air as onlookers watched the worship with rapt attention. Devotees also came forward with abundant offerings of bhoga. Jackfruit, mango, litchi, sandesh and sweet-rice seemed to flow in an endless stream to be offered at Jagannath’s lotus feet. Then the maha-prasadam was distributed amongst the very happy, dancing devotees. What was most inspiring to see was that everybody who joined the procession, be he devotee or not, received Lord Jagannath’s mercy in some way or another…
The dancing of the devotees in this year’s Festival was especially attractive to the eye and pleasing to the heart. Simply by watching them, anybody would be inspired to join in and dance. The dancing wasn’t stiff and rigid, but rather carefree and spontaneous. Devotees danced without inhibition. This was their offering for the pleasure of their Lord Jagannath…The separation the devotees had felt whilst Lord Jagannath was recovering from His cold after Snana-yatra was tangible, as expressed in their happily dancing and chanting before His chariot. The Lord of their heart was again visible to their eyes!
As the chariots moved slowly along Bhakti SiddhantaMarga, onlookers, who gazed upon Lord Jagannath’s lotus face were handed maha-prasadam by smiling devotees. At various intervals there were water and juice-stands were friendly devotees distributed much-appreciated thirst-quenchers.
Many people also got the opportunity to touch the rope of the chariots, and a fortunate number also got to pull the ropes. Fortunate souls indeed… Why? The pulling of the chariots is not simply a procession from Rajapur to Mayapur CandrodayaMandir, but there is a deeper meaning behind it… The Jagannath Ratha Yatra Festival has its roots in Jagannath Puri. There, the three chariots carrying Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra are pulled from Jagannath Mandir to the GundicaMandir. This Jagannath Ratha Yatra Festival is a re-enactment of the first Ratha Yatra. This took place 5000 years ago, when the residents of Vrndavan pulled Jagannath, Baladev and Subhabra-devi from Kuruksetra to Vrndavana.
At the Rajapur’s Sri Jagannatha Temple, Their Lordships getting dressed in nice outfits and adorned with beautiful ornaments and flower garlands. Amidst a roaring kirtan and in big procession, They are seated on three different chariots. They come to Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir and shower their blessings there for the next seven days. Sometimes even a small chariot with Jaganntha, Baladev, and Subhadra Mayi deities comes in front, pulled by the children. Jagannatha-astaka is recited and wonderful kirtan accompanies the chariots.
Every evening, during the seven days of a festival, lamps are offered to Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and all the ladies blissfully serve Lord Jagannatha by offering a nice bhoga they prepare daily for pleasure of the Lord.