Ratha Yatra Festival!!! We have visited it)))))

Souvenir that I bought during the Festival)))
This postcard we were given for free))
Do you remember like I described in one of my post (dated 16.07.2010) one festival Ratha Yatra))) So I am happy to inform you that we were there)))) I am so happy))) cause I though already that we wouldn't manage to visit it))) But our Indian friend Abishek is so kind to us, tries to do his best to show us everything we want)) he is really the nicest friend of us))) So he showed us the place where it was, we went there by his car. In our team were I, Janka, Igor and Bruis))

This festival is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri (it is the holy city that is 300 km from Kolkata) in the state of Orissa,India during the months of June Most of the city's society is based around the worship of Jagannath (Krishna) with the ancient temple being the fulcrum of the area.

It is not the most popular festival in Kolkata, but it is also possible to visit here.)))

I will show you a little more information about the festival itself in Kolkata)))

The symbolic movement of the chariot of Jagannath (agannātha Sanskrit: जगन्नाथ jagannātha Oriya: it is a Hindu deity, a form of Vishnu. The oldest and most famous Jagannātha deity is in the city of Puri, in Odisha, India, the city is known to many as Jagannātha puri after the Jagannath Temple, where each year the famous Ratha Jātrā festival takes place. Jagannātha is worshipped by Hindus all over India. The Jagannātha Temple in Puri is regarded as one of the four most sacred Hindu pilgrimage places in India) is celebrated with much fanfare in Kolkata due to the huge chariot brought out by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Cousciousness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISKCON).

The destination of the cult figures are the Maidan. The "idols" are brought back after a week in the chariot in the festival of Ulto Ratha ("reversed Ratha") . The week is synonymous with numerous fairs (Rather mela) held all over Kolkata parks, known for their distinctive food and carousels. Myth has it that it always rains on the day of Ratha Yatra in Kolkata.

Yap, I understand how it is difficult to understand all the meaning of this religious festival))) But the main is that it is not the most popular festival in Kolkata and if you want to visit it, it is better to go to Puri))) The information about this city is above. We thought about going there, but we aren't sure that we will be aloud going there, cause we are foreigners and of course it is far enough from Kolkata.

The mythology of this festival is very interesting))) This is God description)))

There are two interesting stories associated with this deity. First is the story of how Krishna appeared to a great devotee of the lord, King Indradyumna and ordered him to carve a deity from a log he would find washed up on the sea shore of Puri. He searched for a carpenter to make the deities. King Indradyumna found a mysterious old Brahmin carpenter who appeared and took the responsibility and took a few days to accomplish that. Surprisingly the carpenter insisted that he would not be disturbed while he was carving the deity and start working behind a closed door. Everyone including the King and his Queen were very much anxious and came every day to the closed door and there was sound of working. After 6–7 days of waiting anxiously outside his room, but after some time, all sound stopped. The impatient Indradyumna's Queen worried what had happened and assuming the worst, opened the doors - only to find the deity half-finished and the carpenter vanished! The mysterious carpenter was none other than Vishvakarma, the heavenly architect. The king was distraught as the deity had no arms and legs. Utterly repentant that he had interrupted the carving, the king was only pacified when the muni (sage) called Narada appeared and explained that the form the king now sees is a legitimate form of the supreme personality of godhead. The second story here was narrated to further explain and remove any doubts and confusion.

The second reason for Lord Jagannath's appearance is the story of how Krishna was eavesdropping on the gopis as they spoke amongst themselves of His pastimes, and how much they loved him. Sister Subhadra was instructed to keep watch and ensure Krishna wasn't nearby while the gopis spoke of Krishna. But after a while Subhadra was so overwhelmed by the gopis' devotion and their stories that she became completely engrossed in listening. She didn't see the brothers Krishna and Balarama approaching. As the brothers listened their hairs stood on end, their arms retracted, their eyes grew larger and larger, and they smiled broadly in ecstasy. That is why Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra look like they do.

This form is worshiped by Vaishnavas as the abstract form of Krishna. The deities - Jagannath, Balabhadra (Balarama) and Subhadra (Krishna's sister) are usually worshipped in the temple, but once in every Asadha Masa (Rainy Season, usually June or July), they are brought out onto the main high street of Puri and travel (3 km) to the Mausimaa Temple, allowing the public to have Darshan (holy view) of the deities as they pass. This festival is known as Ratha Yatra. The Rath carts themselves are huge wooden structures built new every year and are pulled by the millions of pilgrims who turn up for the event from all parts of the Globe. The festival commemorates Krishna's return to His home in Vrindavan after a long period of separation from the people there.

Usually the deities - Jagannath (Krishna), Balarama and Subhadra are worshipped within the temple, but on the day of the Rath festival they are taken through the streets so that everyone can have the fortune of seeing them. Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balarama, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt' s temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. New chariots are built every year. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over the World go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pull Lords' chariot with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes. They consider this a pious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Rath carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event. Millions of devotees congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad. It is also telecasted live on many Indian channels and International channels.

For my friends I also send link on Russian about this festival))

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%85%D0%B0_%D0%AF%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0

So I will tell you how it was))) we came there))) There were a lot of people, pavilions with products (honey, sweets), books, souvenirs. Also there were pavilions with theater evens that showed the myths stories, describing how it was.))) A lot of Gods)))

Of course we couldn't understand anything))) just took beautiful photos))) hahah and we were wondering how everything beautiful, colorful, bright was. Also we learned that this festival is very popular and spread worldwide)))

The Ratha Jatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement. Its leader A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada successfully transplanted the festival which now happens on an annual basis in places all over the world in over 100 cities including Dublin, Belfest, London, Budapest, Melbourne, Monreal, Paris, New York, Singapore, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur and Moscow too, in many cities actually))) The Rathajatra in Dhamrai, Bangladesh is one of the most important in Bangladesh.

It is so difficult to understand traditions, it takes much time))) That is why I showed you some information about the festival and traditions in my blog))) But of course it will not cover all the understand of this event))) But anyway we were happy to visit this festival))) and I want to share with you my impressions)))

Oh, we bought something too))) some Krishna icons and we were given postcards)))
Afterwords we went home happy and full of emotions)))

see some photos report below))) bye))