Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra (Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra 2020)

                                      Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra (Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra 2020)

                                                            

The chariot construction for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath started on Friday amid lockdown. This annual Rath Yatra is to begin from 23 June.

Officials said that construction work is going on in 'Rath Kala' located on both sides of Jagannath Temple Office and on Grand Road opposite Sri Nahar Mahal.

He said that blockers have been put on the construction site and it has been covered with clothes as per administration's instructions. The law of social distance is being followed. The 'Rath Kala' has also been declared a prohibited area.

Bijay Mahapatra, the head carpenter of Lord Jagannath Rath, told that the chariot is being constructed under the guidelines of lockdown. The rule of maintaining social distance is being followed and all people also wear masks at work. He said that work was started here after the Central Government gave permission to start construction activities in 'Rath Kala'.

                                      

Rath Yatra is an optional holiday. Employment and holiday laws in India allow employees to choose a limited number of holidays from a list of optional holidays. Some employees may 

choose to take the day off on this day, however, most offices and businesses remain open.

The three chariots are decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and green colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion's Gate.

                                           

Lord Jagannatha's chariot is called Nandighosa. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krishna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.

The chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag. It has fourteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter and is covered with red and green cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.

The chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally "trampler of pride," is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. This chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth – black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess

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