Toshali Sands :: Sri Gundicha or Car Festival of Puri

SRI GUNDICHA OR CAR-FESTIVAL

Badrinath Dham, Rameswar Dham, Dwarikanath Dham and Jagannath Dham are four main religious places of hindus, Jagannath Dham is most important among them. Many festivals are observed in Puri Dham in a year among which Sri Gundicha or Rath Yatra is very pupular. Millions of people gather during this fewstival. Mass participation and pulling of chariots are very heart touching.

The internationally famous festival of Lord Jagannath is the car festival, performed from the second day of the bright fortnight of Asadha (June-July). On the day of car festival, the three deities appear before the public. On the Badadanda (Grand Road) in a special procession called Phandi Bije and climb the three Rathas or Chariots. During this occasion deities come out from the main Temple ascend three newly buily huge wooden chariots and travel forward to Sri Gundicha Temple, which is situate 3 km. a way from the mainb Temple. Gajapati Maharaja of Puri performs his duty of “Chherapanhara” in three chariots. The millions of Devotees draw the chariots serially. First of all Lord Balabhadra’s then Devi Subhadras and Lord Jagannath’s in the end. Deities are taken into Sri Gundicha Temple - Their parental place. The car of Balabhadra called Taladhwaja clad in green and red cloth, is 13.2 metres high and is supported by 14 massive wheels. The four wooden horses attached to the car are names Rig, Yaju, Sam and Atharva after the four Vedas.

The car of Subhadra, other-wise called Padmadhwaja or Darpadalan clad with Black and red cloth is 12.90 metres high and is supported by 12 wheels. The four wooden horses are named Prajna, Anupa, Ghose and Aghri.

The largest among three is the car of Jagannath 13.71 metres high and is supported by 16 wheels each of 2.13 metre diameters and adorned with stripes of dazzling yellow and red. The four wooden horses attached to the car are named Sankhika, Rochika, Mochika and Twalini. The charioteer is names Matali while the chariot is called Nandighosh or Garudadhwaja.

Tourists may book the seats arranged by different Dharmasalas, public housesw and roof tops for viewing the Car Festival. The seating arrangements can be booked through travel agencies and hotels in advance. For betterviews food, visitors/travellers may contact the Grand Restaurant in advance. Tourists are advised to take sufficient water with them and packed food so as to keep away from the crowds.

The deities stay in the Gundicha Temple for seven days. On the 9th day they return to the Temple on the chariot and this is called Bahuda Yatra. (The return of car festival).