Lord Jagannath and Festivals at Sri Mandir Puri

Lord Jagannath at Puri is famous in the world. Lord Jagannath is being worshiped at Jagannath temple or Sri Mandir at Sri Khetra, Puri. Therefore, Orissa is famous for worshiping and temples at India and abroad. Puri is also called as Purushottam Khetra, Shree Khetra, Nilachaldham, Nilagiri and Shankha Khetra. This article is about more about Lord Jagannath and the festivals occur at Sri Mandir.

Jagannath is meant for Lord of the Universe "Jagath Ke Nath". Jagannath Dham is one of the places among "Char Dham" as per the Hindu mythology.

Festivals of Lord Jagannath at Sri Mandir Puri

Every day from morning to night, Lord Jagannath is being worshipped by the Puja Panda's eight times; which called as 'Ashta Kalash Seva'. There have been thirteen festivals in twelve months (a year) at Sri Mandir. The Ashta Kalash Seva consists of:

1. Mangal Aarti
2. Bhusita Karana
3. Gocharana Besha
4. Raja Bhoga and Sayan (Pahada)
5. Ut-than
6. Aparahna Bhoga
7. Sandhya Alaathi
8. Pithapana Bhoga and Sayan (Pahada)

Lord Jagannath Festivals

1. Rath Yatra (Car Festival) or Gundicha Yatra on Ashadha Sukla dwitiya
2. Chandan yatra on Akshaya tritiya
3. Snan yatra on Jyestha Purnima
4. Niladri yatra on Vaisakha Shuklashtami
5. Pushyabhiseka yatra on Pousa purnima
6. Damanaka Chaturdasi on Chaitra-sukladashami to Chaitra purnima
7. Sri Hari Sayanotsav yatra on Ashadha Sukla Ekadashi
8. Basantika Dalastova on Phalgun Shukla Dashami to Purnima
9. Dakhinayan yatra on Karkata Sankranti
10. Parswa Parivartan yatra on Bhadrav Sukla Ekadashi
11. Uttarayan Shashthi on Makar Sankranti
12. Paravati Sasti on Margasira Sukla Sasthi to Vasant

21 Forms of Lord Jagannath at Sri Mandir Puri

1. Sunavesh
2. Chandanlagi vesh
3. Kaliyadalan vesh
4. Avakash vesh
5. Banabhoji vesh
6. Hati vesh
7. Raghunath vesh
8. Badasinghar vesh
9. Radhadamodar vesh
10. Pralam basuri vesh
11. Vaman vesh
12. Trivikram vesh
13. Nagarjuna vesh
14. Gaja uddharan vesh
15. Nrushingha vesh
16. Makar Gairik vesh
17. Padma vesh
18. Ghodalagi vesh
19. Bankachuda vesh
20. Thiakhia vesh
21. Krushna Balaram vesh

Carts of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra on Rathayatra at Puri

Nandighosh cart of Lord Jagannath

1. Height: 33 hands and five fingers
2. Color: Red and Yellow
3. Number of wheels: 16
4. Number of woods: 832 
5. Sarathi: Daruka
6. Ayudha: Sankha Chakra
7. Ratha Rakshak:  Garuda

Taladhwaja cart of Lord Balabhadra

1. Height: 32 hands and twelve fingers
2. Color: Red and Blue
3. Number of wheels: 14
4. Number of woods: 760 
5. Sarathi: Mattali
6. Ayudha: Hala and Mushal
7. Ratha Rakshak:  Vasudeva

Devadalan cart of Goddess Subhadra

1. Height: 31 hands
2. Color: Red and Black
3. Number of wheels: 12
4. Number of woods: 563 
5. Sarathi: Arjuna
6. Ayudha: Padma Kalahar
7. Ratha Rakshak:  Jayadurga