Quick Read: The Yatris (Warkaris) carry padukas of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram.

Several lakh people undertake the Yatra to Pandharpur from every part of Maharashtra. They reach Pandharpur on the Ashadh Ekadasi, generally in July. This is a tradition going back to the 13th century, the time of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Namdev. The journey could take upto 21 days.

The pilgrims (warkaris) carry a Palkhi with the padukas of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram, representing the Yatra of the Sants themselves. The Wari is thus the Yatra of the pilgrims as well as of the Sants.

Source: Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage, D.B. Mokashi

Picture: Palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj at Alandi, 2024. By Salonee Jain, a friend, and a refreshing photographer of the glory of Indian life. https://www.saloneejainphotography.com/

Quick Read: The Bhog Murti of Kedarnath is carried to Ukhimath during winters.

Omkareshwar temple is high up above the Mandakini river near Rudraprayag at a height of about 1300 mts. The Bhog Murti of Kedarnath (the deity who is fed daily) resides at Ukhimath when Kedarnath is closed for winters between November and May.

After the devastating 2013 floods, a priest had recovered the Bhog Murti and carried it to Ukhimath so that the daily worship can continue till Kedarnath was cleared off debris.

Source: Shri Barinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Zee News

Picture: Ukhimath temple premises by Ramanujam S. R

The deities alongwith Sudarshana Chakra go on a Yatra to the Gundicha temple which is about 3 kms away.

The Yatra to Gundicha is believed to symbolize Lord Jagannath visiting his aunt (and birthplace) with his siblings. Gundicha is the wife of the legendary King Indrayumna who built the Puri Jagannath temple. The deities reside in the Gundicha temple for seven days. Thereafter, they return to the Jagannath temple.

The return Yatra is called Bahuda Yatra. During the rest of the year Gundicha temple remains vacant.

Source: Bhagban Mahapatra, Odisha Review

Picture: Yatra Route by Puri Jagannath Temple

Quick Read: The airport, which is built on the erstwhile procession route, is shut down to allow the procession to proceed to the beach.

The Padmanabhaswamy deity goes to the Shangumugham beach twice every year for a bath. This tradition has been in practice for several years. The route of the procession has been through the current airport.

The Trivandrum airport is built at the location of the Royal Flying Club. The Club was started by Colonel Goda Varma Raja, husband of the princess Karthika Thirunal of the Travancore kingdom. The club later on became the location of the airport. The Travancore king rules as a representative of the Padmanabhaswamy temple and the land belonged to the temple.

The Maharajah Chithira Thirunal is believed to have imposed a condition while handing over land to the airport. For two days in a year, the airport will shut down to permit the procession. Thus, during April and October every year, the airport is shut down for approximately five hours.

Source: Various including The Hindu, LiveMint

Picture: The procession passing through the runway, Kerala Tourism

Quick Read: Thrissur Pooram is considered the mother of all Poorams of Kerala and ten temples participate in the festival.

Thrissur Pooram is celebrated in the month of April-May (Malayalam month of Medam). Deities from ten temples in Thrissur come on a procession atop decorated elephants to the Vadakkunathan Temple in Thrissur. Eight of the deities are Bhagavathis (Devis) and two are Sasthas. The Pooram festival is a grand occasion of music (Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam); display of the majestic elephants and their decorations; and grand firework displays.

The Pooram festival is held over 36 hours and is held at the mammoth grounds around the Vadakkunathan temple.

Source: Thrissur Pooram Ekopana Samithy

Picture: Ramanujam S. R

Quick Read: Raghunathji, the presiding deity of Kullu district, invites all the district deities to celebrate Dussehrah in Kullu.

Jagat Singh of Kulu is believed to have been instrumental in bringing a small metal image of Rama from Ayodhya to his royal palace. The deity is Raghunathji and is considered to be the Raja of the entire district.

Every year, on Dussehrah day, all the village devis and devtas of Kulu district are invited formally by the district collector to Kullu. The deities take the form of mohra masks carried in richly decorated rathas and sometimes in simple karadu baskets. They are accompanied by the priests, shamans and devotees on foot.

They first arrive at the royal palace to pay their respects to Raghunathji. Then they move to the Dhaulpur plain where each devta is assigned a specific place where they camp for the next ten days. An image of Raghunathji is installed in the ratha in the maidan and the ratha is pulled to its designated spot in the Maidan. Each day is celebrated with song and Natti dance to greet the deities. The Raja routinely enquires the devtas about their comfort and well being. On the last day, the Rath Yatra of Raghunathji is performed. A traditional sacrifice of five animals called panchabali is carried out.

This festival has been going on for more than 350 years with only occasional interruption.

Source: Dussehrah of Kullu. Karuna Goswamy

Picture: S. R. Ramanujam

Quick Read: Tamil Nadu in particular (and South India in general) celebrates Theppam.

Theppam means float. Theppam or Theppotsavam is the festival where the deity and his consort are taken in the Theppam to a mandapam at the centre of the temple tank. They stay in the Mandapam for a few days and then return.

Grand and visually striking Theppotsavam festivals are held in Madurai, Thiruvarur, Tirupati, Vijayawada and in several other temples in South India.

Source: Various

Picture: Mylapore Theppam in Chennai

Quick Read: The Raj Jat is the journey of the Devi to Mount Kailash from her maternal home.

Nanda Devi is considered married to Lord Shiva. In the Raj Jat she journeys from her maternal home Nauti near KarnaPrayag. She is escorted by villagers to Mount Kailash. It is generally held once in 12 years and it takes 19 days to complete.

The Raj Jat starts at an altitude of 1260 meters, goes up to 5200 meters at Roopkund and ends at Hom Kund (4061 meters) at the base of Mount Trisuli. A four horned ram (called chousingha meindha) leads the entire Jat and stays near the Devi’s palanquin at campsite. Though it is believed to be born only once in 12 years, these are not uncommon and is due to a recessive gene.

Roopkund, through which the Raj Jat passes, is also the site of several skeletons, dated to be 800 years old. These are believed to be unfortunate pilgrims of a Raj Jat who were stranded near the lake in hailstorm or poor weather and died.

Source: Chandra Negi, In the Garb of Nanda Devi Raj Jaat.

Picture: Naveen Pahadi

Quick Read: The Bargarh district in Odisha hosts Dhanu Yatra, reenacting Mathura Vijaya of Krishna and Balarama.

The Bargarh district enacts Dhanu Yatra in the December/ January month. This marks the visit of Krishna and Balarama to Mathura on the invitation of Kamsa, who intends to kill them during the Yatra.

Dhanu Yatra is enacted over 10 or 11 days. It is an open air folk drama. Various events from the wedding ceremony of Devaki and Vasudeva till the death of Kamsa are enacted in Bargarh town and Ambapali village. The performers do not stick to a written script. They speak the dialogue extempore and in their own way. The performances are in the afternoon and in the evening hours and continues till wee hours.

Source: Chitrasen Pasayat, Odisha Review

Picture: Kosli Beni, Flickr

Quick Read: More than one hundred devis and devatas take the Yatra to Mandi during Shivaratri.

Bhutnath (Shiva), the first deity of Mandi kingdom and Madhao Rai (Vishnu), the ruling deity of Mandi both take centerstage during Shivaratri in Mandi.

The first Raja of Mandi, Ajbar Sen, built the Bhutnath temple as the first temple of Mandi kingdom. About 120 years later, all the 18 sons of the seventh Raja, Suraj Sen, had died. Suraj Sen consecrated Madhao Rai as the deity and ruler of Mandi kingdom and thereafter all the Raja’s ruled as the deputies of Madhao Rai.

Shivaratri in Mandi pays respect to both Madhao Rai and Bhutnath. It is held over seven days. All the deities in the region (more than 200) are invited to Mandi by the Government. The deities arrive in Mandi and pay respects to Madhao Rai at the palace. The deity of Madhao Rai then visits Bhutnath temple. The deities camp in the city for the seven days. Three processions of deities (called Jaleb) led by Madhao Rai take place during the Shivaratri period.

Source: Elisabeth Conzelmann, A Royal Ritual of Mandi State.

Picture: Chandan Bhatia, Himachal Watcher

Quick Read: Vishnu dresses up as a thief for safety to travel to his sister’s wedding, but misses it.

During April, the wedding of Meenakshi (Parvati) with Sundareswar (Shiva) is enacted in Madurai along with the crowing of Meenakshi as the Queen of Madurai.

Azhagar is a Vishnu temple 21 kms from Madurai. Azhagar leaves his abode to attend the wedding of his sister in Madurai. To ensure a safe travel, he disguises himself as a thief. However he gets delayed on the way. When he is crossing the river Vaigai at the entrance of the city, he comes to know that the wedding is complete. To console him, both Meenakshi and Sundareswar visit him in the river itself and Azhagar hands over the wedding gifts he has brought and then returns.

Source: Various

Picture: Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Quick Read: These are the names of the three Rathas.

Lord Jagannath’s rath is called Nandighosha. Balabhadra’s rath is called Taladhwaja. The rath of Shubhadra is called Darpadalana.

The flag, the guardian, the charioteer, horses and the rope of each Rath also have specific names.

Source: Puri Jagannath Temple

Picture: The Raths waiting for return Yatra at Gundicha temple, Puri Jagannath Temple