LORD’S RITUALS
Deba snana yatra
Deities take bath on Jyestha Purnima (full moon day in the month of Jyestha) after which they fall sick
Anasara
They go into hibernation for 15 days during which devotees are denied darshan
Netra utsav
Ceremony where finishing touches are given to the eyes of the deities
Naba jauban darshan
The deities recover from sickness and are fit to give darshan to the devotees; this marks the build up to rath yatra
Pahandi
A ceremonial procession that the holy Trinity is carried out of their abode to their chariots
Chherapahanra
Sweeping of chariot floors by Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingh Deo
Rath yatra
Devotees pull chariots from Grand Road to Gundicha temple, aunt’s place of the Lords that is two km from the Puri temple, for nine-day sojourn of deities
Bahuda yatra
Return journey of the Trinity on tenth day of full moon fortnight
Other rituals
Special ceremony held outside Puri temple before deities take their place in sanctum sanctorum
CHARIOT STORY
♦ Wood collection starts after Puri king issues royal orders on second day of Baisakh
♦ On Akshaya Tritiya, ritual construction of chariots begins
♦ 10800 cubic feet of wood used
♦ Logs cut into 2188 pieces, 832 are for Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh, 763 for Balabhadra’s Taladhwaj, 593 for Subhadra’s Darpadalana aka Debadalana
♦ Each chariot has 34 components, from wheels to pennant (flag)
♦ Four pieces of coir ropes, each 8inch in diameter and 250ft long attached to each chariot
♦ 77 carpenters and 80 artisans construct the chariots
♦ 36 categories of servitors are involved in the process, with the Puri king being the first among them
♦ Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh is 45.6ft high, has 16 wheels that are 7ft in diameter. It has four gateways with charioteer Daruka dressed in yellow holding reins of four white horses Sankhika, Balahaka, Sweta and Haridraswa
♦ Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaj is 45ft high, has 14 wheels that are 6ft in diameter. It has four gateways with charioteer Malati dressed in blue holding reins of four black horses Tibra, Ghora, Dirghasrama and Swarnanav
♦ Goddess Subhadra’s Debadalana is 44.6ft high, has 12 wheels that are 6ft in diameter. It has four gateways and is pulled by four grey horses Rochika, Mochika, Jita and Aparajita
♦ Taladhwaj is drawn first, followed by Debadalana and Nandighosh
