Since 1982 (or for 42 Years), the city of Vadodara (Baroda) annually observes Rath-Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, or the Ceremonial Chariot Procession. The ISKCON Temple (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) of Vadodara organises this procession every year.
According to legend, the Mahant of the temple and a small group of devotees participated in the inaugural Rath Yatra when it was launched by Mahant Jasumatinandan Dasji of the ISKCON temple on Ashaadh Sud Bij in the year 1982. The Rath, often known as the chariot, was imported from Ahmedabad in 1982 as well. ⓘ
The sibling trio of gods, Lord Jagganath, Lord Balbhadra, and their sister Subhadra, are placed in the ceremonial chariot, which is decked with floral garlands. Every year, the procession is carried out on the auspicious “Ashaadh Shukla Bij” day, which falls on the second day of the waxing fortnight of the “Ashaadh” month in the Hindu calendar. This chariot is pulled by thousands of devotees chanting ” Hare Ram…Hare Ram…Ram Ram Hare Hare…Hare Krishna…Hare Krishna…Krishna Krishna Hare Hare…” with utmost devotion for their beloved God.
The Polo Ground serves as the finish line for the traditional Rath Yatra route, which starts from the Railway Station. The procession is drowned in the chants of “Hare Ram…Hare Krishna” as it moves through the Kala Ghoda circle, Santram temple, Kothi, Raopura, Nyay Mandir, Dandia Bazar, Khanderao Market, Madan Jhampa, and Baithak Mandir. Before the Yatra begins near the railway station (the beginning point), pahind vidhi is performed. Aarti is performed after the procession ends close to the polo ground.
Behind the Rath, as has been the tradition all of these years, “Halava” (delicious sweet) Prasad is distributed from the back of trucks to the members of the public.This “Halava” is specially prepared in clarified butter or as it is called traditionally “Shuddha Desi Ghee” (Pure clarified butter). Annually around 10,000 kilos of “Halava Prasad” is prepared to be distributed among the devotees.
This Rath Yatra highlights the people’s one and only undiluted religion: “Faith.”
जय जगन्नाथ।
अभिनंदन सारे ISKCON पंथ का की इस पावन दिन, भगवान जगन्नाथ जी के पूरी स्थित मंदीर से दूर बडौदा शहर में भक्तों को सहभागी बन दर्शन और उत्सव का आनंद प्रदान कर रहे हैं। परंपरा, संस्कृति का जतन हो, सभी लोग इस महत्व को समझें तथा इसका सम्मान कर अगली पीढ़ी में भी रोपण हो, यह हम सब की जिम्मेदारी है और इसके लिए मैं अपना विशेष आभार प्रकट करता हूँ। जय जगन्नाथ।