Every year, Bhagwan Jagannath, along with Baladev and Subhadra Mata, are bought out of the Garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of Jagannath Temple, placed in a rath (chariot), and pulled by the devotees to nearby Gundicha temple. Hundreds of thousands of devotees worldwide flock to the city of Puri in the eastern coastal state of Odisha to observe the festival of Rath Yatra (chariot/cart festival). Many amazing facts and legends are associated with the festival's origin, the temple, and the deities. Here in this article, we compile a few exciting facts about the chariots of Bhagwan Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Mata.
Bhagwan Jagannath's Chariot Details
Name: Nandighosa / Garudadhwaja / Kapidhwaja
Colour of the chariot: Red & Yellow
Number of wheels: 16
Diameter of wheels: 7 Feet
Number of wooden pieces used: 832
Height of the chariot: 13.5 m (45 feet)
Length & breadth: 34.6 Feet
Guarded by: Garuda/Narsingha
Gate keepers: Jay & Vijay
Name of the charioteer: Daruka
Name of the flag: Trailokya Mohini
Weapons of the chariot: Shankha & Chakra
Power of the chariot: Bimala & Biraja
Number of horses: 4
Name of the horses: Shankha, Balahaka, Shveta, Haridashva
Colour of horses: White
Name of the rope: Sankhachuda
The Face of the chariot: Nandi Mukha
Subsidiary nine deities: Varaha, Govardhana, Krishna, Narsingha, Ram, Narayana, Trivikrama, Hanuman, Rudra
Rishis: Narada, Debal, Vyasa, Suka, Parashar, Vashista, Vishwamitra, Rudra
Balaramji’s Chariot Details
Name: Taladhwaja
Colour of the chariot: Red & Green
Number of wheels: 14
Diameter of wheels: 6.6 Feet
Number of wooden pieces used: 763
Height of the chariot: 13.2 m (44 feet)
Length & breadth: 33 Feet
Guarded by: Vasudev
Gate keepers: Nand & Sunanda
Name of the charioteer: Matali
Name of the flag: Unnani
Weapons of the chariot: Hala & Musala
Power of the chariot: Brahma & Shiva
Number of horses: 4
Name of the horses: Tibra, Ghora, Dirghashrama, Swarnanava
Colour of horses: Black
Name of the rope: Serpent Basuki
The face of the chariot: Ketu Bhadra
Subsidiary nine deities: Ganesha, Kartikeya, Sarvamangala, Pralambari, Halayudha, Mrutyunjaya, Natamvara, Mukteshwar, Sheshadeva
Rishis: Anjira, Poulastya, Pulaha, Asasti, Krushna, Mudgal, Atreya, Kasyap
Devi Subhadra’s Chariot Details
Name: Devadalana / Darpadalana / Padmadhwaja
Colour of the chariot: Red & Black
Number of wheels: 12
Diameter of wheels: 6 Feet
Number of wooden pieces used: 593
Height of the chariot: 12.9 m (43 feet)
Length & breadth: 31.6 Feet
Guarded by: Jaydurga
Gate keepers: Ganga & Jamuna
Name of the charioteer: Arjun
Name of the flag: Naadambika
Weapons of the chariot: Bhubaneswari & Chakra
Power of the chariot: Brahma & Shiva
Number of horses: 4
Name of the horses: Rochika, Mochika, Jita, Aparajita
Colour of horses: Red
Name of the rope: Swarnachuda
The face of the chariot: Bhakti, Sumedha, Chamar & Hasta
Subsidiary nine deities: Harchandi, Chamunda, Ugratara, Vanadurga, Bhubaneswari, Jayadurga, Varahi, Sarvmangal & Bimala
Rishis: Bhrigu, Suprava, Bajra, Dhruba, Shringi & Ulluk
