Ratha-Yatra - The Chariots

The Chariots

The three chariots of Balarama, Subhadra and Jagannatha are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. They are customarily brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla by a specialist team of carpenters who have hereditary rights and privileges for the same. The logs are traditionally set afloat as rafts in the river Mahanadi. These are collected near Puri and then transported by road.

The three chariots are decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion’s Gate.

Lord Jagannatha’s Chariot is called Nandighosa. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krushna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.

The Chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag. It has fourteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.

The Chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally "trampler of pride," is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. This Chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth - black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess.

Around each of the chariots are nine Parsva devatas, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots’ sides. Each of the chariots is attached to four horses. These are of different colours – white ones for Balarama, dark ones for Jagannatha, and red ones for Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi. The three charioteers attached to the chariots of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra respectively are Daruka, Matali and Arjuna.

DESCRIPTION OF CHARIOTS

1) Chariot of Jagannath -NANDIGHOSHA/GARUDADHWAJA/KAPIDHWAJA

Number of wheels : 16 Total Number of wooden pieces used : 832 Height : 44' 2" Length and breadth : 34'6" x 34'6" Wrappings : Red, Yellow colour cloths Guarded by : Garuda Name of the charioteer : Daruka The flag : Trailokyamohini The horses : Shankha, Balahaka, Suweta, Haridashwa The rope : Sankhachuda Naguni Presiding Nine Deities : (i) Varaha (ii) Gobardhan (iii) Krushna, Gopi Krushna (iv) Nrusingha (v) Rama (vi) Narayan (Vii) Trivikrama (viii) Hanuman (ix) Rudra

2) Chariot of Balabhadra - TALADHWAJA

Number of wheels : 14 Total Number of wooden pieces used : 763 Height : 43' 3" Length and breadth : 33' x 33' Wrappings : Red, Bluish green colour cloths Guarded by : Basudev Name of the charioteer : Matali The flag : Unnani The horses : Tribra, Ghora, Dirghasharma, Swornanava The rope : Basuki Naga Presiding Nine Deities : (i) Ganesh (ii) Kartikeya (iii) Sarvamangala (iv) Pralambari (v) Hatayudha (vi) Mrutyunjaya (vii) Natamvara (viii) Mukteswar (ix) Sheshadeva

3) Chariot of Subhadra - DARPADALANA/PADMADHWAJA/DEVADALANA

Number of wheels : 12 Total Number of wooden pieces used : 593 Height : 42' 3" Length and breadth : 31'6" x 31'6" Wrappings : Red, Black colour cloths Guarded by : Jayadurga Name of the charioteer : Arjuna The flag : Nadambika The horses : Rochika, Mochika, Jita, Aparajita The rope : Swarnachuda Naguni Presiding Nine Deities : (i) Chandi (ii) Chamunda (iii) Ugratara (iv) Vanadurga (v) Shulidurga (vi) Varahi (vii) Shyamakali (viii) Mangala (ix) Vimala

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