Know the History of Rath Yatra

By A Staff Reporter : Rath Yatra is celebrated with great fanfare in Puri. Rath Yatra of Puri is very ancient. According to the ancient Punthi Brahmandpurana of Odisha,  Rath Yatra begings from Satyuga.Although at that time Odisha was not known as Odisha.The name of the state was Malab Desh.King Indradyunma received a vision to build a Vishnu temple.The chariot journey was divided into two parts.A total of 6 chariots came out in two parts, three each.Balagundi Nala used to flow on Rath Yatra road during that period.To wear it, the idols of the gods were taken down from the chariot midway and placed in the new chariot across the canal.Then this canal was closed during the reign of King Kesari Narasimha.Since then, only 3 chariots completed the Puri Rath Yatra.The approximate age of Puri Rath Yatra is seven hundred years.Jagannath-Balram-Subhadra went to aunt's house on the chariot. Aunt's  house is called Gundich Mandir.  Gundicha is the wife of King Indradyunma.Before leaving for Jagannath Dev's aunt's house, the road is swept with a broom.It is the members of the dynasty who do the work of cleaning the streets.