In a historic turn of events, the revered Rath Yatra in Odisha will span two days this year, a rare occurrence last seen in 1971 due to a specific celestial arrangement. Devotees will have the unique opportunity to pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra on two consecutive days, marking a significant deviation from the traditional single-day event. However, the faithful will miss the sight of the Trinity in the ‘Nabajaubana’ (New Youth) ritual.
According to the temple’s ritual calendar, ‘Ratha Agyanmala Bije’ is scheduled for July 6. The ‘Nabajaubana Darshan’, ‘Netra Utsav’, and the grand ‘Rath Yatra’ will all take place on July 7. On this day, the chariots will be moved a short distance, but the full journey to the Shree Gundicha temple will occur on July 8. This adjustment is due to the almanac indicating a 13-day ‘Anasara’ period this year instead of the usual 15 days, necessitating a reschedule of rituals to maintain traditional adherence.
Celestial Alignment and Ritual Adjustments
A member of the Mukti Mandap, the highest seat of scholars in the temple, clarified that despite the Anasara period being shorter this year, it must be observed for the full 15 days as per the Bamadev Samhita and Niladri Mahodaya records. The Anasara period begins after the Snana Purnima ritual on June 22 and concludes on July 6. This alignment causes the Nabajaubana Darshan and Rath Yatra to coincide on July 7, requiring all related rituals to be adjusted accordingly.
Historical Precedent
Daitapati servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra emphasized the rarity of this year’s arrangement, noting that it mirrors the unique scheduling of 1971. He explained, “Usually, a day before Nabajaubana, the Agyanmala of the Trinity is brought out for the chariots to be pulled towards the Lions Gate. This year, the situation is different.”
The overlapping of Nabajaubana and Rath Yatra leaves insufficient time for the Sriranga Seba, a secret ritual of the Trinity, along with the Netra Utsav and other preparatory ceremonies. Consequently, the Nabajaubana Darshan will not be conducted this year. Instead, the agyanmalla of Pati Dian will be used to initiate the chariot movement on July 6 while the deities remain in the Anasara Ghara for the secret rituals.
Ritual Schedule
On July 7, the deities will be brought to their chariots in the traditional Pahandi procession at 2:30 pm. Subsequent rituals, including the Cherra Pahanra (sweeping of the chariot floors by the Gajapati Maharaja), will take three to four hours, delaying the chariot pulling to around 7 pm or 8 pm. The chariots will then be moved a short distance.
The next day, July 8, the chariots will continue their journey to the Gundicha temple. This two-day pulling of the chariots provides a rare opportunity for devotees to participate in the sacred event twice.
This year’s Rath Yatra promises to be a memorable occasion, blending tradition with unique celestial influences, allowing devotees a rare and cherished experience in the heart of Odisha’s spiritual heritage.
Prasanta Patnaik