Puri Rath Yatra 2023: Chariot Festival in Odisha, India Indira Srivatsa Puri Rath Yatra, the world famous chariot or car festival, at the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha, India. Puri Rath Yatra 2023 date is June 20. It is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon or bright fortnight) Ashadh month as per traditional Oriya Calendar. On the day of the Ratha Yatra (car festival), chariots (Rath) carrying Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra is pulled to the nearby Gundicha Temple. The return journey of the chariots or Bahuda Jatra is on June 28, 2023. Importance of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra: The Brahma Purana glorifies the importance of Puri Rath Yatra in the following words - "Those who are fortunate to see the deities of Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, get the privilege of going to Vishnuloka, the abode of Vishnu or heaven." The concept of chariot in Hinduism of ancient origin. The Katha Upanishad states - "The body is the chariot and the soul is the deity installed in the chariot. Wisdom acts as the charioteer to control the mind and thoughts." A TO Z INDIA ● JUNE 2023 ● PAGE 5