Hindu Temple of Siouxland celebrated the Annual Jagannatha Ratha Yatra with pomp and splendor on July 18 at the temple. As always, Dr. Dash was our Grand Sponsor for the celebration and had an active participation in the event. He was one of the first to arrive early in the morning.
Jagannatha Ratha Yatra has a few different background stories and beliefs. In the primary narrative from Odisha, the trio of Jagannatha, Balabadra and Subhadra take on their annual journey on their chariots to the Gundicha Temple. The Gajpathi King sweeps the floor of the chariots with a golden broom, highlighting the king as a humble servant before the divine. The journey is said to last nine days after which the deities return home (Bahuda Yatra) to the main Jagannatha temple.
The journey and the rituals provide an opportunity for everyone to get a darshan of the deities. Per Skanda Purana, catching a glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on His chariot ensures liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Rath Preparations…
Preparation for the event started early in the week with updates to the Rath and bringing color and character to the celebration. Our community member Sri. Nalin Parmar did the magical transformation. See the transformation for yourself!
Day Of The Event
The event began around 9 AM with Ganesha Pooja, Mahasankalpam, followed by Punyagavachanam (purification) and Kalasha Pooja. That was followed by Jagannatha Pooja which incorporated 16 different offerings to the Lord. Following that was the Havan/Homam.
With havan/homam complete, the Rath Pooja got going. The Rath Pooja effectively prepares the chariot for the deities to sit and go on the procession. Once the rath was ready, people from the community carried each deity one by one to the rath (Pahandi) with back and forth rocking motion to the beat of heavy drums and cymbals.
Once the deities were seated, it was time for Chhehra Pahanra by the Gajpathi king. Dr. Dash, our grand sponsor, took on the role of the king, complete with a kreetam (crown), and did the sweeping of the floors for the chariots to move through. The community then took the deities on their annual journey with one and all chanting and pulling the chariot.
Once the journey was complete, the deities were brought back to the temple, where the various fruits and Chappan Bhog (56 varieties of prasad) were offered. The event then completed with Maha Aarti. The event is also special for sharing grand food preparations and prasad with the community. Everybody enjoyed the grand lunch brought in for the event and the special chappan bhog preparations.
After the event, the Vice-President of Executive Committee Suresh Yarabarla had this to say:
“Thank You for Making Puri Jagannath Yatra a Grand Success. On behalf of the Hindu Temple of SiouxLand, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in and supported this year’s Puri Jagannath Yatra. A special thank you to all our dedicated volunteers, sponsors, donors, priests, performers, and families who generously contributed their time, effort, and resources. Your selfless service and commitment made every aspect of the event possible. May the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra bring peace, happiness, good health, and prosperity to you and your families. We look forward to celebrating many more festivals together. Jai Jagannath! “🙏
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Picture Credit: Includes pictures from Ms. Prasunna and HTOS EC Team. Thank you!