FAQ's
What is Ratha-Yatra?
Rathayatra is a huge festival for Lord
Krishna and His devotees. Everyone chants Hare Krishna and dances
in ecstacy as Krishna in His most merciful form of Jagannatha is pulled
along on the huge Chariot (Ratha). At the end of the procession (Yatra),
there is a big gathering of devotees with feasting, stalls and spiritual
entertainment.
What is the origin of Rathayatra?
Rathayatra has been held for hundreds of
years at Jagannatha Puri in Orissa, on India's East coast. There,
millions of pilgrims come to the festival, and all new carts are built
each year. The original inner meaning of Ratha-Yatra is very beautiful.
In His time on this Earth, Krishna grew up in Vrindavana, and had great
loving friendships there with all the residents, including the cowherd
boys and gopis. When Krishna grew up, he became a King. One time, the
residents of Vrindavana came to see him, but they could not relate
Krishna the king to the mischevious cowherd boy they all knew and loved.
They therefore kidnapped Him, and tried to bring Him back to Vrindavana
on a cart. Being with Krishna like this, they felt simultaneous loving
emotions of closeness and separation.
Who is Jagannatha?
Jagannatha is a special very merciful form
of Krishna who loves festivals! There are two causes for his unique
appearance.
First is the story of how Krishna appeared
to King Indradyuma and ordered him to carve a deity from a log he would
find washed up on the sea shore. King Indradruma found an old brahmin
carpenter to carve the deity, but the carpenter insisted that he not be
disturbed while he was carving the deity. The king waited anxiously
outside his room, but after some time, all sound stopped. Indradyumna
worried what had happened, and opened the doors - to find a
half-finished deity and the carpenter gone!
The second reason for Lord Jagannatha's
appearance is the story of how Krishna was evesdropping on the gopis as
they spoke amongst themselves of His pastimes, and how much they loved
him. As Krishna listened, His hairs stood on end, His arms retracted,
His eyes grew larger and larger, and He smiled broadly in ecstacy. That
is why Jagannatha looks as He does.
How can I take a part in helping the
festival to be a success?
You can come and join in!
Would you like to enjoy serving Jagannatha
even more? The festival is only possible by the selfless assistance of
many volunteers - more details here.
