Jagannath Rath Yatra

A Ratha-Yatra or Roth Jatra or Chariot Festival is a Hindu festival that involves transporting deities on a chariot (called aratha or roth). The festival originated in Puri in the State of Odisha. The rath (chariot) is carrying Lord Jaggannath and due to its massive size and weight and sometimes seemingly unstoppable nature, has led to the English word juggernaut to refer to an unstoppable force.

“Ratha” in Oriya means chariot and “yatra” means journey. The festival thus refers to the annual journey of the divinity in the form of idols to their aunt’s house. “Aunt” here refers to the feminine creative aspect of divinity.