Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut

Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut

The English Word Juggernaut, which means ‘a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way’, is derived from the name of Lord Jagannatha. Actually from the Puri Jagannath chariot procession. The chariots pulled during the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatraare really huge and earlier people used to get crushed under the big wheels while pulling it. Friar Odoric, a Franciscan missionary, witnessed one such accident in 14th century and wrote about the huge chariot in a European journal.

About the Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Chariots

About the Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Chariots

The three chariots (Raths) used for the annual Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra are newly constructed each year. A particular family of carpenters owns the hereditary right to construct the chariots. The construction of the chariots begins on the Akashya Tritiya day, which is around three months before the actual Ratha Yatra day. Each chariot used in the Rath Yatra has specific size and dimensions. The chariots are a classic example on indigenous engineering marvel.

PURI Rath Yatra 2014 date – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra

PURI Rath Yatra 2014 date – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 

Puri Rath Yatra, the world famous chariot or car festival, at the PuriJagannath Temple in Orissa. Puri Rath Yatra 2014 date is June 29. 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.