Jagannath Puri
Puri is famous for the world famous Shri Jagannath Temple and Longest Golden Beach. It is one of the holiest of the holy place. Best time to visit Puri is from June to March.
Jagannath Puri is one among the Four Dhams (Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram) considered as a Holy Sites.
Opening Time of Temple
The Temple opens around 5:30 AM in the morning. After the completion of Mangal Aarti , Kathaa offerings were given to the lord and then devotees are allowed inside the temple which is around 7:30 AM/8 AM.
10 Amazing Facts about Jagannath Puri Temple
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Direction of Flag
- It is believed that the flag mounted on the top of the Jagannath Puri Temple always flows in the opposite direction of wind which is a unique exception to the principle of airflow.
- There is no as such scientific explanation of this nature defying fact.
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Tradition of flag changing
- This temple follows a ritual of changing a flag on daily basis which is being followed from 1800 years .
- Every day, a priest scrambles up the dome of a temple to change the flag atop the temple dome.
- The temple height is approximately equivalent to that of a 45 stories building.
- It is believed that if this ritual is not followed for even a single day than the temple will be shutdown for 18 years.
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No Shadow
- The Jagannath Puri Temple is reported to have no shadow at all at any time of the day in any direction.
- Usually, when we step outside in sun our shadow is always with us but the architecture of this temple is so unique is doesn’t leave a shadow.
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Sea Waves on mute mode
- This temple is located near sea. Once, you enter from Singha Dwara entrance the audability of ocean waves seems to go on mute, the sound is entirely lost. Again there is no scientific explanation for this and as you step outside the temple you can hear the ocean waves.
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Installation Of Sudarshan Chakra
- There are many mystery behind this chakra mainly for its heavy weight and appearance.
- This eight spoke chakra was introduced on the gopuram 2000 years earlier.
- The chakra is around 20 feet in height and weights a ton very heavy, still its a mystery how this heavy chakra was installed at the top without any help of machinery in that century just with the help of human force.
- The shape of this chakra is designed in a such a way that it looks similar from all the direction.
- It is considered as architectural riddle which no one has solved yet.
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Nothing Fly’s over the Temple
- As we know there is nothing above God so there is nothing fly’s over this temple, literally nothing.
- No bird, no Aeroplan seems like area is restricted by Lord Jagannath.
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Magical Way of Cooking Prasad
- Traditional way of cooking Prasad is being followed here.
- Seven pots are used as vessels mounted over one another and are cooked using firewood.
- The top most pot is cooked first and remaining follows the similar order.
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No Wastage of Food
- As per Hindu mythology, wastage of food is considered as a bad sign. Prasad prepared inside the temple every day is never wasted not even a single bite.
- Number of people visiting the temple varies between 2500 to 2,00,000 every day. Still, the amount of prasad prepared inside the temple is always distributed among all devotees.
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Changing of Idols
- The old idols of deities are disintegrated every 14-18 years and are replaced by new deities.
- These deities are made up of neem wood and it is believed that they are disintegrated by their own.
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Reverse Breeze
- In entire Earth, during day time the breeze from sea comes to land and during evening time it is just opposite.
- In Puri, it is just opposite during day time the breeze blows from land to sea and exactly opposite in evening.
Ratha Yatra
The Jagannath Yatra symbolizes the journey of Lord Jagannath from Vrinadavan to Mathura to slay his conniving uncle Kansa.
Jagannath Yatra is an annual Hindu chariot festival celebrated on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh. The festival is associated with the deity Jagannath held at the city of Puri in the state of Odisha, India.
Why do we celebrate Ratha Yatra?
Ratha Yatra symbolizes the journey of Lord Jagannath, as he returns to his home. As everyone can’t make it to Puri, so people wake up early and wear new clothes on this day to cherish the journey of Lord’s from their home.
Devotees celebrates the departure day of Lord Krishna and Balram as a Ratha Yatra. As Lord Krishna and Balram was invited by their maternal uncle Kansa to Mathura. He sent Akrur with a chariot , he was planning to kill both of them.
When does Ratha Yatra take place?
Ratha Yatra begins on the second day of Shukla Paksha of the Hindu lunar month of Ashadha. It takes place every summer, usually during June or July.
In 2023 it will start on 20th June 2023 and will end on 28th June 2023 (9 days event).
Why it is called as Ratha Yatra ?
Ratha means “Chariot” . It is also called as “Festival of Chariots” as it sees the ceremonial removal and procession of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balaram, and sister Subhadra, from their temple, to the Gundicha temple, believed to be their aunt’s house.
Significance of Ratha Yatra
It is believed that a person who pulls the rope linked to the chariot of the deities and also helps other to touch that rope at least linked to the chariot gets the merits of several penances.
It is specially for a person who is highly spiritual and looking for final liberation.
How many days Ratha Yatra is celebrated
This festival is celebrated for 9 days, during which Lord Jagannath and his other two deities Balaram and Subhadra visit the Gudhicha Temple and Mausi Maa Temple.
Chariots are beautifully decorated which resembles the grand temple structure which is pulled through the streets of Badadanda in Puri.
Traditions of Ratha Yatra
In the Ratha Yatra, the three deities (Jagannath, Balaram, Subhadra) are taken out from the Jagannath temple in the chariots to the Gudhicha Temple, where they stay for nine days. After the completion of nine days the deities are again ride the chariot back to the puri.
Special Food of Ratha Yatra
- Rice/Lentil Khichdi with Eggplant vegetable and crisp papad is the special food during Ratha Yatra.
- Sweets like Jalebi, Khaja, kheer are very special during Ratha Yatra.
Favorite Food Of Lord Jagannath
Chenna Poda -> It is believed to be Lord Jagannath’s favorite sweet dish, which is cooked in homes for several hours. Considered as festival special delicacy.
How many dishes are offered to Lord Jagannath
The prasad/offering of Lord Jagannath is knowns as “Mahaprasad Thali” which is offered to deity every day. The Mahaprasad Thali is a combination of 56 different vegetarian dishes each with different flavor, texture and taste.
Please do visit our another amazing post about Lord Vishnu – https://koverstory.com/garuda-wisnu-kencana-gwk-cultural-park/