Ratha Yatra; the festival of chariots, involves the presiding deity of a temple going on a procession in a wooden chariot pulled through the surrounding streets. The timing of this festival varies between temples. Here in the UK, South Indian temples that follow ancient Agama traditions hold Ratha Yatras through the spring and summer months. The most famous Ratha Yatra is of Shri Jagannath in Puri, where three giant wooden chariots, the size of temples, are re-constructed annually for a festival that spans 9 days.
Puri is one of the Char-Dhams; preeminent centres of Hindu spirituality located in the four corners of Bharat. At the heart of this sacred city is the temple of divine siblings- Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra. Though popularly understood as Krishna, Jagannath is also regarded as form Shiva, Kali, Surya and Ganesh and hence the Puri temple is a unique confluence of all major Hindu sects. The pan-Hindu importance of this temple and the grandeur of its Ratha Yatra has inspired Hindu communities across the world to hold Jagannath Ratha Yatras in their locality and hence it has developed into a pan-Hindu festival no longer confined to the streets of Puri.
On the same day (Ashada Shukla Dwitiy’), Hindus in Kutch also mark their New Year, known locally as ‘Ashaadi Beej’. Part of the modern Indian state of Gujarat, Kutch developed a language and culture distinct from the rest of Gujarat due to geographic isolation.
Image Courtesy of Scottish Hindu Foundation – Glasgow Ratha Yatra