Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot. They are held annually during festivals in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The term also refers to the popular annual Ratha Yatra of Puri. that involve a public procession with a chariot with deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana Chakra on a ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot.
Three chariots of the deities with the Temple in the background, Puri
Image: Kalpathy Chariot festival last day
Image: India Kanchipuram 022 chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2508349542)
Image: Fete Varkala
The Ratha Yatra of Puri, also rendered as the Ratha Jatra, is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July). The festival is held at the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India and associated with the deity Jagannath. During the festival, three deities are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots on bada danda to Gundicha Temple whereby they reside there for a week and then return to the Jagnannath temple. This return trip is referred to as the Bahuda Yatra.
Three chariots of the deities with the temple in the background, Puri
Nandighosa Ratha during Covid-19 Ratha Yatra
Chariot is under construction
Pahandi of Jagannath during Rathajatra 2017.