New Delhi: The Ratha Yatra of Puri is one of most the important festivals in India. Regarded to be the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival, it is celebrated every year during the lunar month of Ashadh and this year, it is being held on July 7. It takes place in Odisha’s Puri and Lord Jagannath, his brother Balaram and their sister Subhadra are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots from the Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple. There, the three deities live for a week before returning to the Jagannath Temple on a trip known as the Bahuda Yatra.
Know about Gundicha Temple
The Gundicha Temple is located in Puri and is the destination of the annual Rath Yatra. Despite remaining vacant for most of the year, it is occupied by images of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and their sister Subhadra for seven days every year.
Also called the Garden House of Jagannath, the temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden and walls on all sides. It is located about 3 kilometres from the main temple and the two are located at the two ends of the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue), the path of the Yatra. Light-grey sandstone was used to build the temple and it is a typical Kalinga temple built in the Deula style. The complex has vimana, the jagamohana or the assembly hall, nata-mandapa and the hall of offerings. There is a plain raised platform to keep the deities during the Yatra festivities. The deities enter through the main temple gate in the west and depart through the Nakachana gate in the east.
According to the legends, the temple was named after Gundicha, the queen of Indradyumna. However, another legend states that the temple was named Gundicha after a local goddess Gundicha, who is worshipped to cure smallpox. One can enter the temple for free and everyone is treated equally inside it.
Foreigners are allowed to enter only during the festivities of the Rath Yatra. As per tradition, during Jagannath’s stay in Gundicha temple, the food to be offered to the deity is prepared there instead of the main temple. During Sandhya Darshan (evening prayers), which takes place during the festival’s second last day thousands of devotees throng the temple to have darshan of Lord Jagannath and partake of Mahaprasad.
The Gundicha Temple is located in Puri and is the destination of the annual Rath Yatra. Also called the Garden House of Jagannath, the temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden and walls on all sides. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
