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Rath Yatra: Interesting Facts About Bhagwan Jagannath's Chariot Festival

Jul 5th, 2024 | 2 Min Read
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Category: Festivals

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Language: English

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:
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:
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:
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