By Prof(Dr) Manoj Kumar Satpathy, The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is a significant event that attracts numerous devotees and tourists alike. It is a celebration deeply rooted in tradition and service.
The Grand Road of Puri comes alive with the divine Rath Yatra. This is where Lord Jagannath steps out to embrace His devotees in a journey of faith and unity.
Also at RCM, we celebrate this sacred tradition in full swing. We do so with hearts full of devotion, colors of culture, and a spirit that brings everyone together.
Jagannath Bije! RCM Re Utsav Sajee!
Not merely a deity carved in wood, the Living Lord — “Chalanti Thakura” — breathes in the hearts of millions. He answers a child’s cry and walks the streets to bless the lowest of the low. He blesses the forgotten, the untouchable, and the unloved. This divine presence is the protector of the poor and the strength of the tribals. Moreover, He is the hope of the casteless, and above all, the soul of the Universe.
The Eternal Legend: From Nila Madhava to Jagannath
The story of Lord Jagannath begins not with royalty but with a humble tribal chief — Vishwavasu. He worshiped Nila Madhava in the dense forests. It was only when King Indradyumna, moved by divine dreams, ventured in search of the Lord. Then, the unseen Nila Madhava vanished — and Jagannath emerged in His place. He emerged not to be owned by kings or Brahmins but to belong to every soul that cries His name with love.
“He hides from power, but reveals Himself in love.”
His form — unfinished, limbless, smiling — reminds us that God does not need perfection to reside in us. His presence is not bound to completeness, but to compassion.
The Lord Who Breaks Barriers
In a world divided by caste, creed, and color, Lord Jagannath created a divine drama to shatter all walls of discrimination. His elder brother Balabhadra questioned the presence of people of all kinds in their service. Then, Jagannath smiled and enacted a divine leela — He mingled with the untouchables, shared food with tribals, and made every caste bow before devotion.
In this, He became not just a symbol of religion, but a revolution.
“To the Lord of the Universe, there are no high or low, only hearts that beat with faith.”
The Rath Yatra: When God Comes to You
The Rath Yatra is not just a festival. It is God’s home visit. It is the only day when the deity doesn’t wait for you to come to Him — instead, He comes to you. Rolling on majestic chariots — Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan. The Lord and His siblings travel to their aunt’s abode, the Gundicha Temple.
People throng from every corner of the world, not as pilgrims, but as children waiting to glimpse their parent’s face. In that moment, rich and poor, learned and illiterate, king and beggar — all become one — devotees.
Devotees Whose Love Moved the Divine
Dasia Bauri, a poor untouchable, once offered coconuts that reached Jagannath’s temple without ever being physically carried. This happened because the Lord Himself took them.
Bandhu Mohanty, starving and helpless, was fed by Lord Jagannath Himself during a cyclone.
Salabega, a Muslim devotee, wrote soul-stirring bhajans for Jagannath. On one occasion, the Lord even stopped His chariot to let Salabega have darshan.
“It is not your birth that brings you closer to God, but your bhakti (devotion).”
A Poem for the Lord on His Journey
He rolls on wheels, the Lord of skies,
With teary eyes, the devotee cries,
“O Jagannath, You feel my pain,
You come to heal, You break my chain.*
In Rath You ride, yet stay in heart,
In dust, You dwell, in life, each part,
To tribal hut, to broken soul,
You walk with love, You make us whole.
The Rath Yatra is a celebration not just of a journey from temple to temple. It is a journey from the Divine to the Devotee. It marks a path from the throne to the street, and from heaven to the human heart.
Let us not just pull the chariots this year. Let us also pull out the pride, the ego, the divisions within us. Furthermore, let us walk with Jagannath — the God who walks for all.
“Jagannath is not in Puri alone. He is wherever a tear meets faith, and a soul whispers His name.”
Jai Jagannath!
