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Rath Yatra Colours: Yellow, Black and White In the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple, the presiding deities are three siblings: Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. On Rath Yatra day, the three siblings come out of the Shreemandir, to embark on a journey to visit their parents at the Gundicha temple, about three kilometers away. The rationale behind this is yet unclear. The temple of the  two brothers and the sister is named after the consort of Lord Jagannatha, Lakshmi, who is also referred to as Shree. One often sees a picture of Vishnu, sleeping on the Shesha Naga and served by Lakshmi in the mythical Vaikuntha Dham. Jagannath represents Vishnu and Balabhadra the Shesha Naga. In the Ramayana, the three went to the forest together as Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. In the mythical Dwapara yuga, however, there is no such account of the three embarking on a journey together. In that age, Krishna represented Vishnu, except that the former married several women and loved a mu

Hindu Wedding Rituals 13 Steps of a Vedic Marriage Ceremony While various regional steps are followed by different sects of Hindus across India, the following 13 steps form the core of a Vedic wedding ceremony: Vara Satkaarah Reception of the bridegroom and his kinsmen at the entrance gate of the wedding hall where the officiating priest chants a few mantras and the bride's mother blesses the groom with rice and trefoil and applies tilak of vermilion and turmeric powder. Madhuparka Ceremony Reception of the bridegroom at the altar and bestowing of presents by the bride's father. Kanya Dan The bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantras. Vivah-Homa The sacred fire ceremony ascertaining that all auspicious undertakings are begun in an atmosphere of purity and spirituality. Pani-Grahan The groom takes the right hand of the bride in his left hand and accepts her as his lawfully wedded wife. Pratigna-Karan The couple walk r

Rath Yatra - The Chariot Festival of India Every year in mid-summer (this year it is July 10, 2013), Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, goes on vacation, travelling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his garden palace in the countryside. This belief of the Hindus has given rise to one of the biggest religious festivals in India — the Rath Yatra or t he Chariot Festival. This is also the etymological origin of the English word 'Juggernaut'. Jagannath, believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu, is the Lord of Puri — the coastal town of Orissa in eastern India. Rath Yatra is of great significance to the Hindus, and especially to the people of Orissa. It is during this time that the three deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a grand procession in specially made gigantic temple-like chariots called raths, which are pulled by thousands of devotees. Historical Origin Many believe that the custom of placin