Rath Yatra and Its Significance in Life

Rath Yatra (Chariot Journey)

Rath Yatra (Chariot Journey) of Lord Jagannath is celebrated today at Puri in Odisha. This is a very special day for all devotees of Lord Krishna and ISKCON too organizes Rath Yatra all across their temples in the world. I had the opportunity to participate in Rath Yatra on a few occasions. It is a wonderful experience participating with others, chanting and pulling the Rath in unison with them. 

Leaving aside the fact this is a grand Hindu religious event, there is a great message involved in this magnificent event that happens once in a year. This is an attempt to try and decipher the same in this column as looking at Rath Yatra just as an event does no good to people, whatever religion one followed.

The Rath – is the chariot in which the deities are taken in a procession. They are made every year from wood and are massive in size. They are beautifully painted by the temple artists and painters. The Ratha signifies our body and mind. It is important that body is fed with healthy food to keep it fit at all times to carry on with the responsibilities of life. It is crucial to keep the mind too in proper shape with positive thoughts that inspire others and also self. A healthy body and a clean mind will attract everyone just as the beautifully carved Rath is cynosure of all eyes. The core meaning of this is that humans are at liberty to design and make what they want to carry on with in life. Whether one leads a life that is celebrated by all or a life that is disliked by others is up to them.  

The Lord placed at the heart of the chariot and brought out of the sanctum sanctorum during Rath Yatra is sculpted with a special wood. What does this signify? Every religion has its own God though He is One. God is not some person or object that can be cast in iron, it is for each individual to carve and experience God in his/her own way. As it is not possible in this short span of time to experience and carve out their own, it is easier to follow the path traversed by others who have already experienced positive results. Just as the chariot becomes valuable once deities are placed on them, life of those who follow and practice positive thoughts, words and deeds by synchronizing them in their hearts too becomes more beautiful, valuable and enjoyable.    

Sweeping – The most significant aspect of Rath Yatra is the sweeping ritual that takes place on two days. The King of the land wears the attire of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots. The King cleans the road in front of the chariot with a gold-handled broom and also sprinkles sandalwood water on the path that the chariot takes. The significance of this is that before Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Worlds), there is no distinction between the Ruler and the Ruled and all are equal in the eyes of the Lord. It is their own acts that make them a king or a pauper.

To relate this ritual to lives, just as a public road, the paths that one takes in lives too are full of dangers, filth, and other unwanted items that could trouble in the journey of life. Some of them are created by one’s own self or created for him by others. Life does not discriminate between a king and a sweeper. It is important for a king or an ordinary person to keep introspecting and cleaning his acts, thoughts and deeds. This is like running a virus scan occasionally to keep the hard disk clean. A smooth journey is possible only on a smooth road. With the Lord in the heart, the journey of life becomes a happy and enjoyable ride for anyone.

Pulling the chariot – After all arrangements are in place, the chariot is pulled by scores of devotees and each one vies to pull it. There is affection all around when the Rath is pulled and each one co-operates with others to help pull the Rath by holding the ropes. This signifies that life is all about collective success. No man can ever be happy with individual success. Happiness is when success is shared with others. No one can claim to have been victorious in life if he hadn’t worked in association with others and helped them in the process. Even the greatest victor had a tough competitor who played an indirect role in achieving success. Just as the heavy chariot moves fast and easily when pulled by all, the society too will prosper when all people work with shared goals and objectives in the overall interest of humanity.

The simple message of Rath Yatra is to keep one’s body and mind clean with good thoughts; to place the Supreme Lord in the heart; to not discriminate individuals based on their positions or wealth; to not to think high of oneself wherever he/she is placed; to work together with others so that the journey of life, however tough or heavy it feels makes it easier to reach the ultimate goal in life.