Rath Yatra 2023: Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik makes sand art with 250 coconuts

Puri: The world-famous Rath yatra is a significant festival for everyone. On the occasion of Rath yatra 2023, renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik has made a sand art with two Hundred fifty coconuts installed in the sand art of lord Jagannath Ratha.

The sand art depicts the chariots of the trinity. Three chariots, known as raths, are  made with sand. The chariot of Lord Jagannath, called Nandighosa, the chariot of Balabhadra, called Taladhwaja and the chariot of Subhadra, known as Darpadalana. Below the chariots, the faces of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are made with coconuts.

The Rath Yatra is considered one of the most significant festivals in Hinduism and holds immense religious importance for devotees. It symbolizes the journey of Lord Jagannath from his abode to visit his aunt’s house. The chariots are pulled from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, covering a distance of approximately 3 kilometers. Thousands of devotees gather to participate in pulling the chariots with ropes. It is believed that even touching the ropes or the chariots during the procession is considered highly auspicious.