In pic: Bhagwan Jagannath with Balabhadra and Subhadra
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRESENTS ONE HOUR PROGRAMME ‘SPIRIT OF INDIA – RATH YATRA’ ON JULY 4 AT 9 PM
New Delhi, July 1, 2016: India is a country of diverse religions and cultural backgrounds, and a true manifestation of its rich culture and traditions are its ‘festivals’. One such festival that’s been celebrated exactly the same way at exactly the same spot for hundreds of hundreds of years is the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra.
Once every year, the temple town of Puri in Orissa comes alive with one of the world’s largest human gatherings for the grand Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra or the Great Chariot Festival.
Discovery Channel’s Discover India series will showcase one hour special, Spirit of India – Rath Yatra on Monday, July 4 at 9 PM.
Presented by UK born Indian actor Danny Sura, the special programme Spirit of India – Rath Yatra will take viewers on a pilgrimage to the temple city Puri, which is considered one of the four abodes (Char Dham) that every Hindu must visit in their lifetime. The programme will showcase the grand procession of pulling three gigantic chariots, the interaction with the community whose livelihood is dependent on designing these chariots and many other famous mythological tales behind its festivities.
Spirit of India – Rath Yatra will bring to its viewers the spectacle of how over one and a half million people congregate for a holy gathering into a single street, pulling the chariots by hand on a three kilometer journey, all in the honor of Lord Jagannath and his brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra. The programme will also unravel the pre-celebration activities which start about two weeks ago and the culmination of the momentous yatra.
Host Danny Sura will bring out interesting trivia about the Rath Yatra festival including making of the 45 feet long and 16-weeled chariot of Lord Jagannath’s called Nandighosha; Lord Balabhadra riding atop a 45 foot high, 14-wheeled Taladhwaja; and Lord’s sister Dadi Supadra riding the 44 foot high, 12-wheeled Devadalana.
These gigantic chariots aren’t just about scale; they’re also about detail. Highlighting the superb craftsmanship of the artisans of Orissa, Danny introduces viewers to the community of chariot makers who have been handed over the tradition generation after generation and marking special days to commence its construction i.e. woodcutting beginning in April on Rama Navami and the chariot construction starting from Akshaya Tritiya in May. Danny will also put spotlight on the Odisha’s greatest treasures, the thousands of temples that dot the state.
Witness the colourful and mesmerizing festivities of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra on Discovery Channel on Monday, July 4 at 9 PM.
