Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Where And How Jagannatha Rath Yatra Is Celebrated Around The World

Saturday, June 17, 2023, 19:35

The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is about to begin in Odisha and the happy anticipation is soon going to be over as the Yatra starts ceremoniously with lakhs of devotees assembling in such a devoted fervour.

Lord Jagannath steps out of his sacred 400-year-old temple along with his siblings and travels towards his devotees to see them.

People are bitten by this bug already across the globe and carry on the rath yatra with the same enthusiasm. Here is how, of the yatra and the celebrations around it.

According to a legend, before Lord Jagannath's temple was set up in Ahmedabad, there was a forest on the shores of the Sabarmati river..

Here the rath yatra passes through muslim predominated areas on its Bada danda tour. This travel of Jagannath is for those devotees who are unable to visit him for a darshan due to their physical disabilities.

This yatra is conducted on Ashada Shukla Dwitiya on which Kutchhi New year also starts. Russians, about 6000 of them, took part in their riotous jagannath rath yatra festival conducted at Black Sea in 2015. Outside India, this yatra is successfully being carried out, and here is a list for your perusal.

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bhaktapur in Nepal is where Ratha Yatra is pompously celebrated. Khatmandu has a Jagannath temple that survived a huge earthquake in 2015 which you can visit for a more wholesome experience.

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane indulges in merrymaking and singing songs of Jagannath and celebrates a cultural event along with the street yatra. It wins hearts and the way it reaches a devoted frenzy gets overwhelming.

Auckland, New Zealand

Ratha Jatra is also celebrated in Auckland where it is famous and a well-known festival. The devotees here, in this place, dance in a trance, oblivious to what is surrounding them. Chariots are drawn with dripping enthusiasm and remembrance of Lord Jagannath.

Prague, Czech Republic

Every year on the streets of Prague, people are seen pulling 40 feet high chariot on this day of the Rath Yatra, carrying the idols of the four deities. The entire assemblage of devotees are accompanied by a band of singers, and dancers who add gaiety and colour to the event.

Durban, South Africa

Ratha Jatra firstly was started in Durban in 1988 and is celebrated with a vibrant touch. They also hold the yatra in the form of a festival of which not only the Rath Yatra is a part, but also the plethora of Cultural activities that follow suit, to add to the rhythm and rhyme of the festival.

Rome, Italy

In Rome, you can even catch a glimpse of Italian devotees dancing to the tunes of the Jagannath songs while drawing out the procession in the streets. The first time it was held was in 1981 at Viareggio in Italy.

London, England

Huge and curious crowd, partly composed of NRIs and native Britishers, gathers in huge numbers to just follow the event. The Trafalgar square is filled with exploding colours and soothing colours of ethnic attires, that look psychedelic and attention grabbing.

Moscow, Russia

The temperature of below 20 is not a deterrent for the 200 devotees who gather at the Moscow streets and brave the snow fall just to sing the praises of Lord Jagannatha. Ratha Jatra in Moscow looks like a heaven on earth.

San Francisco, USA

In 1967, the first rath yatra was conducted in San Francisco. What started with a curiosity and a huge fanfare, still retains its enthusiasm and zest even today in its rath yatra celebrations.

Florida, USA

Florida comes up with a parade of colourful chariots with dangling decorations at the time of Rath yatra of Lord Jagannath. Classical dance and music follow the event later. The festivity brings out the cheer and mirth in people.