The temple town of Puri in Odisha is gearing up for one of the largest religious congregations in the world as Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra is just days away. The annual sojourn of the divine trinity – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra – attracts devotees and visitors from across India and abroad to Puri. Rath Yatra is also held in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar and special offerings are made to the Lord in Janjgir Champa. Malpua is made in Champa town of Janjgir Champa district for Rath Yatra. It is made only on the day of the Rath Yatra. It is offered to Lord Jagannath as prasad. People from far and wide come to Champa to see the Rath Yatra and return home only after buying Malpua, the Lord’s prasad. Malpua is sold for Rs 150 to 170 per kg.
Once a year, on the day of the Rath Yatra, Malpua is made at many places in Champa city. After the Rath Yatra, people buy it as a prasad and take it home. The rush is so much that people have to queue for hours to buy malpua. People are very fond of this malpua made of jaggery.
According to the Hindu Calendar, Ratha Yatra is held on the Dwitiya Tithi or the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha. This year, Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri will be held on Sunday, July 7. The nine-day festival will conclude with Bahuda Yatra, or the return journey of Lord Jagannath with siblings, on July 16.
Lord Jagannath, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is revered as the ruler of the universe. The annual Rath Yatra or the chariot festival marks the 9-day visit of the holy trinity to their birthplace at Gundicha temple.
This year, Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is going to be a significant occasion for devotees due to some rare occurrences.
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