Yatra

Yatra is a part of Indian tradition. The term does not refer to any particular festival. But, it can be a part of any festivals.  ‘Yatra’ refers to fair, a journey to a pilgrimage site (Tirtha yatra) and also a procession held during the celebrations of any festivals. In the Hindu tradition ‘Yatra’ would be observed as a part of ritual to be followed, but it is not an obligatory ritual.

It is said that by accomplishing a Yatra one would feel ‘full filled’. The Yatra consists of visiting holy shrines, and performing due rituals at the holy site (such as visiting holy rivers, confluences etc.  Epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana state the desirable ‘yatras’ one should accomplish in his life time. However none are obligatory. A Yatra is a journey to be accomplished. It involves hardships, sufferings and arriving at the destination fulfills one’s desires.

Some Yatras are:

·   Char Dham Yatra: This includes a journey to four holy cities. They are, Badarinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri and Rameshwaram.  It should be accomplished in one’s life time.  Sometimes the cluster would be expanded by adding few more cities (Sath Dham Yatra for instance).

Manas Sarovar Yatra: This Yatra consists of visiting the Manas Sarovar Lake near Mount Kailash.

Amarnath Yatra: This Yatra consists of visiting the Amarnath Linga in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.  This takes place every year.

 Ratha Yatra at Puri Jagannath: This Yatra will be accomplished by dragging the Chariot till the Gundecha Mata temple. This takes place in Jagannath Puri, Orissa.

Tirtha Yatra: This Yatra consists of visiting all the holy shrines (pilgrimage sites) at least once in our lifetime.  Sometimes devotees of a particular deity undertake a journey by walk (bhajans, devotional songs involved) towards the shrines belonging to their particular deity during specific times.  They go in groups. For instance, the ‘Warkaris’ in Maharashtra (devotees of Vithoba –the deity of Pandharpur ) undertake such Yatra in June and July. Their destination would be Pandharpur.

Fairs:  These fairs are called ‘Jatra’ in India. These ‘jatras’ have significance at the regional level. They will be held once in a year or sometimes once in two years depending upon the tradition of the temple. Processions will take place including the chariot procession (Rath Yatra of the particular deity) by the communities.