Every year, when the monsoon clouds start gathering over Odisha, millions of hearts beat a little faster. Streets fill with colour, drums echo everywhere, and giant wooden chariots roll slowly through the crowds. This is Rath Yatra, the festival of chariots, one of the oldest and most loved celebrations in India. But why do we pull these huge chariots? Why do people cry with joy when they touch the ropes? Let me take you into the sweet and simple story that makes Rath Yatra so special.
The Loving Brother Who Missed His Sister
The heart of Rath Yatra is a family story full of love and longing. Lord Jagannath, who lives in the great temple at Puri, is actually Lord Krishna himself. His elder brother is Balabhadra and his younger sister is Subhadra. Every year, the three siblings want to visit their aunt’s house, just like we visit relatives during holidays.
Their aunt (mausi) lives a little distance away at the Gundicha Temple. So once a year, Jagannath decides to take Balabhadra and Subhadra on a grand trip to see her. The gods cannot walk like us, so beautiful chariots are built for them. Jagannath rides Nandighosa, Balabhadra rides Taladhwaja, and Subhadra rides Darpadalana. When the chariots start moving, it feels like the whole family is going on summer vacation together.
People believe that Jagannath misses his devotees too. He stays inside the temple most of the year, seen only by priests. During Rath Yatra he comes out to meet everyone, rich or poor, from any caste or country. That is why millions wait on the road just to have one glimpse of him.
Krishna’s Childhood Memories in Gundicha Temple
There is another sweet reason tied to Krishna’s childhood. When Krishna was a little boy in Vrindavan, his mother Yashoda would take him and Balaram to visit their aunt’s house. Krishna loved those trips. He enjoyed the journey, the fresh air, and playing with cousins.
Years later, when Krishna became Jagannath in Puri, he remembered those happy days. So he asked the king of Odisha long ago, “Can we go to Gundicha Temple the same way?” The king was overjoyed and promised to build chariots every year. That promise is still kept centuries later.
The Gundicha Temple is treated like the aunt’s house. For seven days Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra stay there, eat special food, and rest like guests. On the eighth day they return home in another beautiful procession called Bahuda Yatra. The return journey is even more emotional because everyone feels sad to say goodbye.
The Day Even Gods Fall Sick
After coming back from the trip, something very human happens to the gods. They catch a cold! Yes, even Lord Jagannath gets fever after travelling in the rain and wind. For the next fifteen days the temple doors stay closed. The gods rest, take herbal medicine, and eat light food. This period is called Anasara.
Devotees miss them terribly. Artists paint special pictures called Pattachitra of the three deities so people can still have darshan. When the gods feel better, they appear again on the day of Nava-Yauvanotsava, looking fresh and young. Then comes the grand Rath Yatra the next year.
This simple story of falling sick and getting well makes Jagannath feel like a real family member. No other festival shows gods living such a human life.
How a King’s Dream Started the Tradition
The Rath Yatra we see today began over 900 years ago. King Indradyumna had a dream where Lord Vishnu told him to build a huge temple in Puri and install wooden idols. The king found a magical log of neem wood floating in the sea. Lord Vishwakarma, the divine carpenter, appeared as an old man and carved the three idols: Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
The idols were unfinished and rough-looking, but that was part of the divine plan. From that day, the king promised that every year the Lord would come out to bless everyone. Since then, no king or government has ever stopped this journey, not even during wars or British rule.
Anyone Can Touch the Lord: The Magic of Equality
One of the biggest reasons Rath Yatra touches every heart is its message of equality. Inside the temple, only certain priests can go near Jagannath. But during Rath Yatra, anyone can pull the ropes, touch the chariot, and offer prayers. Kings, farmers, children, foreigners, everyone stands together.
There is a beautiful incident from the 16th century. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the great saint from Bengal, used to dance and sing in front of the chariot. He taught that love for God is bigger than any rule. Even today, people from ISKCON centres around the world celebrate Rath Yatra in more than 100 countries because of his love.
The Nine-Day Journey: Step by Step
The festival lasts nine days and each day has its own charm.
Day 1: Snana Yatra – The gods take a grand bath on the full moon of Jyeshtha. Thousands of pots of scented water are poured on them.
Day 2-15: Anasara – The gods rest and recover.
Then comes the main Rath Yatra. The chariots are newly built every year with special wood. The king of Puri still sweeps the chariots with a golden broom to show that service is greater than power.
The pulling of ropes is full of joy. People sing “Jai Jagannath” and believe that one pull can wash away years of bad karma. After reaching Gundicha Temple, the gods rest for seven days.
On the return journey (Bahuda Yatra), Subhadra stops at the Mausi Maa temple and Jagannath offers her poda pitha, a special pancake that he loves. Only after she tastes it do they go home.
The festival ends with Niladri Bije, when Jagannath returns to the main temple and playfully argues with Goddess Lakshmi for leaving her alone!
Why Millions Still Pull the Ropes Today
In a world that runs fast, Rath Yatra teaches us to slow down and feel love. Parents bring children so they learn devotion early. Old people come to pray for peace. Young couples ask for blessings. Tourists come and leave with tears, saying they felt something divine.
Every year the crowd grows bigger. In 2025, more than twenty lakh people came to Puri on the main day. Yet there is no pushing, no anger, only smiles and songs.
The festival reminds us that God is not far away in the sky. He is our brother, our friend, our child who wants to meet us. And once a year, he steps out just to say, “I am here for you.”
That, in the simplest words, is why Rath Yatra is celebrated: because love needs a journey, and every heart wants to pull the rope at least once in life.
