Rath Yatra - A Significant Part of Tourism in India

Tourism in India is manifold. India is a vast land with extremely rich yet diversified cultures. It has many facets. Each state has its own identity and past history. None is comparable to the other. Each state maintains unique fairs and festivals, traditions, tourist spots, temples and deities etc. Tourism in India demands an entire lifetime of an individual due to its elaborateness and complete vastness.

Puri Rath Yatra, for instance is a globally eminent festival celebrated in Puri, Orissa mainly. According to history, the Rath Yatra started when Lord Krishna (Lord Jagannatha) left Dvaraka to attend a religious function in Kuruksetra some 5000 years ago. He was traveling by an opulent chariot along with his sister Subhadra and elder brother Balarama to Vrindavan. Since then each year in the months of June/ July devotees celebrate this auspicious Rath Yatra in Puri- the place where Lord Jagannatha resides eternally. Three gigantic chariots are constructed each year with maintenance of minute details and decorations. On the auspicious day, devotees gather in millions and pull the three chariots to Lord Jagannatha aunt’s place. And at the end of seventh day, they are brought back to the main temple. After the chariots reach to aunt’s place initially, devotees get “Mahaprasada”, exclusively made following strict rules. Each year foreigners come in large number to get a glimpse of the God himself at this auspicious occasion.

Participating in the various festivals like Rath Yatra is also a part of Tourism in India.