Realhimachal: creating some article first draft - done

2025-08-10T02:20:45Z

creating some article first draft - done

New page

{{Short description|Hindu festival organised in Ahemdabad, Gujarat}}
{{Cleanup|date=November 2019|reason=Grammar and English}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Rathyatra Ahmedabad.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Decorated Elephants in Rath Yatra, Ahmedabad]]
'''Rath Yatra''' ({{Translation|'''Chariot Festival''' or '''Car Festival'''}}) is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in [[Ahmedabad]]. Since 1878, the [[Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad]] has organised the Rath Yatra procession on Asadh Sud Bij. This festival celebrates the deities [[Jagannath]], [[Balarama|Balrama]] and [[Subhadra|Subhdra]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 July 2018 |title=Passage being smoothened for 141st Rath Yatra |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/passage-being-smoothened-for-141st-rath-yatra/articleshow/64953180.cms |access-date=2019-07-04 |website=The Times of India |language=en |agency=TNN}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=10 July 2013 |title=136th Jagannath rath yatra begins in Ahmedabad amid tight security |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/gujarat/story/136th-jagannath-rath-yatra-begins-in-ahmedabad-amid-tight-security-169788-2013-07-10 |access-date=2019-07-04 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

Held as a Lokotsav (public festival) of Gujarat, the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra is the third largest in India, following the Rath Yatras in [[Puri]] and [[Kolkata]], which are also celebrated on the same day.<ref name=":2" />

During the 2023 Rath Yatra procession in Ahmedabad on June 20, a balcony collapse on the route in Dariyapur locality tragically resulted in one fatality and eight injuries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-20 |title=One killed as balcony falls during Ahmedabad Rath Yatra |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/one-killed-as-balcony-falls-during-ahmedabad-rath-yatra/article66990591.ece |access-date=2024-03-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Legend ==
According to tradition, Narsimhadas, a saintly figure, dreamt of Lord Jagannath, which is believed to have inspired the commencement of the Rath Yatra festival at the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad in 1878.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sadhanaweekly.com/Encyc/2016/7/8/rathyatra.html |title=રથયાત્રા |trans-title =Rathyatra |website=www.sadhanaweekly.com |language=gu |access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

== Traditions ==
Traditionally, the Rath Yatra procession features chariots (known as raths) constructed from coconut wood by devotees from the Khalas community of Bharuch. Members of this community continue to serve as the chariot drivers in the procession.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.khabarchhe.com/news/ahmedabad-jagannathji-rathyatra-history.html |title=જાણો અમદાવાદ જગન્નાથજીની રથયાત્રાનો ઈતિહાસ |website=khabarchhe.com |access-date=2019-07-04 |language=gu |trans-title=Learn the history of Ahmedabad Jagannathji's Rathyatra }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>[[File:Rathyatra 2011 ahmedabad.JPG|thumb|right|Artist performing his work during Rath Yatra, Ahmedabad (2011).|alt=Artist performing during Rath Yatra at Ahmedabad in 2011]]

===''Jalayatra''===
''Jalayatra'' have been carried out on Jayestha Shukla Purnima when Jagannath, Balrama and Subhdra symbolically go to the maternal uncle's home at Saraspur. [[Darśana|Darshana]] in temple closed that day.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jagannathjiahd.org/jal-yatra/|title=Jal Yatra – Shree Jagannathji Mandir|date=28 February 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref> ''Jalayatra'' of [[Jagannath]] to [[Sabarmati River|Sabarmati]] river come with a procession and perform the ''Ganga Poojan,'' returning with vessels of water for the [[Abhisheka]] to Jagannath. After performing the ''Shodashopchar Poojan Vidhi'' by chanting the ''[[Vedas|vedic]]'' mantras, symbolically the Lord is sent to His maternal uncle’s home.<ref name=":0" />

===''Netrotsav''===
Before two days prior to Rath Yatra, ''Netrotsav'' ritual on idols is conducted. According to belief, the eyes of the three deities are affected with [[conjunctivitis]], owing to eating of ''Jambu'' or ''Jamun'' (Indian blackberry) and ''Baur'' (plum) in excess at ''Mosal''. Hence, idols are symbolically treated for it during ''Netrotsav pujan'' by covering eyes with clothes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deshgujarat.com/2017/06/23/netrotsav-puja-performed-ahead-of-rath-yatra-in-ahmedabad/|title=Netrotsav puja performed ahead of Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad|date=2017-06-23|website=DeshGujarat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

=== Rath Yatra ===
Mangla Aarti is performed on the day at 4 am and usually Rath Yatra is carried out at 7 am. ''Pahind Vidhi'' ritual is performed by [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]] in which symbolic cleaning of the path of Rath Yatra is carried out, after which the chariot procession begins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/jagannath-rath-yatra-begins-in-gujarat-234124|title=Jagannath Rath Yatra Begins in Gujarat|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> In Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath's chariot is carried out first, followed by Subhadra and Balram's chariot. [[Akhara]]s, elephants, decorated trucks and troupes also take part in 14 kilometer long Rath Yatra.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/over-25-000-cops-drones-cameras-to-secure-gujarat-rath-yatra-on-july-4-1558773-2019-06-29 |title=Over 25,000 cops, drone cameras to secure Gujarat Rath Yatra on July 4 |date=29 June 2019 |agency=Press Trust of India |website=India Today |language=en |access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Ratha Yatra]]
[[Category:Culture of Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in India]]
[[Category:Festivals in Jagannath]]
[[Category:Organised events in Ahmedabad]]

Rath Yatra (Ahmedabad) - Revision history

Realhimachal: creating some article first draft - done