Puri is home to the great Lord Jagannath Mahaprabhu. Throughout the year, multiple events are celebrated honouring the Lord of the Universe with lot of zest and enthusiasm. While the annual Rath Yatra is considered to be the biggest festival attached to Lord Jagannath, Chandan Yatra preceding it holds a significantly important place too. It is the longest festival of Lord Jagannath, starting on Akshaya Tritiya every year and continuing for 42 days. This year, the Chandan Yatra started on 3rd May 2022.
The Summertime Sandalwood Festival
‘Chandan’ literally translates to sandalwood. As the name of the festival suggests, Chandan Yatra is celebrated by covering the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in a paste of Chandan and water.
The fable behind the festival is inspired by the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. According to the fable, Lord Krishna himself asked his devotee – Madhavendra Puri – to smear Chandan over the lord, hence providing him relief from the intense heat of summer. This practice continues to date as the Chandan Yatra. The festival is divided into two parts of 21 days each, namely Bahara Yatra and Bhitara Yatra.
Bahara Chandan Yatra
The first 21 days of the festival begin with taking the images of Rama, Madan Mohan, Krishna, Laxmi and Biswadhatri to the Narendra tank, or the Chandan pokhari. The five shivalingasalso accompany on this playful trip which commences from the Singhdwara of the Jagannath Temple. Two boats, Bhadra and Nanda, are prepared for taking the deities on a picturesque evening cruise with music, dancing and revelry all around. Several rituals also take place during and after the cruise in the Narendra Tank. Thousands of devotees flock to see the procession and even take a dip in the Narendra Tank, which is considered to be an auspicious part of the festival.
As the name suggests, the Bahara Chandan Yatra is so called because the idols are brought out of the temple. Exactly opposite to these rituals is the Bhitara Chandan Yatra.
Bhitara Chandan Yatra
This is the second half of the Chandan Yatra. During these 21 days, the indoor aspect of the festival is observed. After returning from their joyful trip to the tank, the idols are brought back to the temple complex. Four days are considered to be highly significant for the Bhitara Chandan Yatra, namelyPurnima, Sashti, Ekadasi and Amavasya.
Other Significant Associations of the Day
The Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath is considered to have several other important events associated with it. One of the most important events is the building of the chariots for the upcoming Rath yatra, which commences on the day of Akshaya Tritiya or the first day of the Chandan Yatra. The wood is marked and a group of craftsmen start building the glorious chariot of Lord Jagannath.
Historically, the Chandan yatra is also linked with Odisha’s maritime past. It is believed that it was contemplated to impart training to young men in the field of sea voyage. As the Chandan Yatra 2022 has started in full swing, may this summertime festival bring a gust of coolness into our lives. May this set a joyous start to Odisha’s most awaited festival – the Rath Yatra.
Puri is home to the great Lord Jagannath Mahaprabhu. Throughout the year, multiple events are celebrated honouring the Lord of the Universe with lot of zest and enthusiasm. While the annual Rath Yatra is considered to be the biggest festival attached to Lord Jagannath, Chandan Yatra preceding it holds a significantly important place too. It is the longest festival of Lord Jagannath, starting on Akshaya Tritiya every year and continuing for 42 days. This year, the Chandan Yatra started on 3rd May 2022.
The Summertime Sandalwood Festival
‘Chandan’ literally translates to sandalwood. As the name of the festival suggests, Chandan Yatra is celebrated by covering the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in a paste of Chandan and water.
The fable behind the festival is inspired by the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. According to the fable, Lord Krishna himself asked his devotee – Madhavendra Puri – to smear Chandan over the lord, hence providing him relief from the intense heat of summer. This practice continues to date as the Chandan Yatra. The festival is divided into two parts of 21 days each, namely Bahara Yatra and Bhitara Yatra.
Bahara Chandan Yatra
The first 21 days of the festival begin with taking the images of Rama, Madan Mohan, Krishna, Laxmi and Biswadhatri to the Narendra tank, or the Chandan pokhari. The five shivalingasalso accompany on this playful trip which commences from the Singhdwara of the Jagannath Temple. Two boats, Bhadra and Nanda, are prepared for taking the deities on a picturesque evening cruise with music, dancing and revelry all around. Several rituals also take place during and after the cruise in the Narendra Tank. Thousands of devotees flock to see the procession and even take a dip in the Narendra Tank, which is considered to be an auspicious part of the festival.
As the name suggests, the Bahara Chandan Yatra is so called because the idols are brought out of the temple. Exactly opposite to these rituals is the Bhitara Chandan Yatra.
Bhitara Chandan Yatra
This is the second half of the Chandan Yatra. During these 21 days, the indoor aspect of the festival is observed. After returning from their joyful trip to the tank, the idols are brought back to the temple complex. Four days are considered to be highly significant for the Bhitara Chandan Yatra, namelyPurnima, Sashti, Ekadasi and Amavasya.
Other Significant Associations of the Day
The Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath is considered to have several other important events associated with it. One of the most important events is the building of the chariots for the upcoming Rath yatra, which commences on the day of Akshaya Tritiya or the first day of the Chandan Yatra. The wood is marked and a group of craftsmen start building the glorious chariot of Lord Jagannath.
Historically, the Chandan yatra is also linked with Odisha’s maritime past. It is believed that it was contemplated to impart training to young men in the field of sea voyage. As the Chandan Yatra 2022 has started in full swing, may this summertime festival bring a gust of coolness into our lives. May this set a joyous start to Odisha’s most awaited festival – the Rath Yatra.
