Jagannath Rath Yatra is the pious and important festival of Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, which is commencing on the 29^th June, Sunday and will return back on 7^th July this year. This colorful festival draws millions of people around the world to participate in the Grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath (Sri Krishna) in the month of June-July every year. This festival is considered to be very auspicious in many terms; its grand and colorful Yatra is famous all over the World. In this Yatra, Lord Jagannath comes out of his sanctum sanctorum to give Darshan to all his devotees. It is believed that the one who becomes the part of Rath Yatra, get rid of his sins and will go to the heaven.

In Jagannath Rath Yatra, the means of transport is a chariot or car on which Lord Jagannath along with his brother Balarama and his sister Subhadra shower their grace on the devotees. This chariot Vehicle is known as Rath. Every year, for a period of about 15 days, Lord Jagannath travels out to sprinkle his mercy. Those who get an opportunity to view the glimpse of the Rath Yatra or to pull the chariots are blessed by the God. Actually, Snana Purnima marks the beginning of this festival where Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Devi Subhadra take prolonged bath on an open platform is known as Snana Bedi, and then all the three deities retire for 15 days popularly called the period of Anabasara and remain in isolation. During this period no worship is performed. After 15 days, the Gods come out of the temple in a colorful procession to board their respective chariots and thereafter begins the journey known as Rath Yatra.

It is believed that the Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrations commenced when Sri Krishna that is Lord Jagannath attended a religious function in Kuruksetra some 5,000 years ago, travelling from Dwarka  in a big chariot along with his sister and brother, Subhadra and Balarama. Therefore, this event occupies a spiritual place in Jagannath Puri every year, and millions of people gather here to please their eyes on the divine event of Rath Yatra. Every Year in Jagannath Puri, Lord Caitanya took part in the car festival of Jagannath, exhibiting symptoms of the mode of separation, as if Radha was taking Krishna back to Vrindavan,. So this Rath Yatra is a feeling festival for the Vaisnavas. Lord caitanya never taught us that he had seen God, but he felt the separation of God very severely.

Today, Rath Yatra festivals are performed at temples around the World. In Jagannath Rath Yatra, over 1,000 logs are brought from the Dasapalla and Ranpur forests, and more than 100 carpenters work for around two months to construct the three chariots. Even a local mill provides nearly 2,000 meters of cloth each year and chariots are beautifully draped in color and with flowers. Coconut fiber ropes have been used by the devotees to pull the chariots.  The Ratha main structure contains eighteen pillars and roofs. Each chariot consist nine subsidiary deities, two door keepers, one Sarathi and one presiding deity of the Dhwaja Devta and all are made of wood.

The chariot of Lord Jagannath is known as Nandighose, 23 cubits and has 18 wheels. The chariot of Balarama is known as Taladwaia, which is 22 cubits in height and has 16 wheels. The name of Subhadra chariot is Devadalan, which is 21 cubits in height and has 14 wheels. In terms of grand and splendor devotion, Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the world most incredible festivals.