Chandan Yatra

Chandan Yatra also known as Gandhalepana yatra is the longest festival observed at Jagannath temple at Puri, India. Chandan Yatra meaning Sandalwood Voyage in Sanskrit, which continues for 42 days is observed in two parts: Bahara Chandana and Bhitara Chandana

The Narendra Tirtha tank where ceremonies of Bahara Chandana are performed

Bahara Chandana

Bahara Chandana starts from Akshaya Tritiya and continues for 21 days. Construction of the chariots for the annual Rath Yatra festival starts from Akshaya Tritiya.^[1]

On the first 21 days the representative idols of the main deities of the Jagannath temple as well as five Shivalingas known as the Pancha Pandava are taken in a procession from the Singhadwara or the Lion Gate of the Jagannath temple at Puri to the Narendra Tirtha tank.^[2] After various rituals the deities are placed on grandly decorated boats for an evening cruise of the tank.

Bhitara Chandana

The last 21 days include rituals held inside the temple itself.^[3] Instead of the daily cruises, the playful ride happens here on four occasions, the Amavasya, the full moon night, on the Shashti and the Ekadashi of the bright fort night.^[4]

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Jagannath worship Deities Jagannath Balabhadra Subhadra Sudarshana Chakra Temples Odisha Puri Gundicha Temple Baripada Gunupur Koraput Nayagarh Bhubaneswar Kendrapara Chhatia Bata Dharakote Patali Srikhetra Other parts of India Agartala Ahmedabad Bangalore Chennai Delhi Hyderabad Ranchi Medinipur Alwar Mahesh Hajo Abroad Comilla Dhamrai Pabna South Africa Sialkot Festivals and ceremonies Chandan Yatra Dola Yatra Panchaka Nabakalebara 2015 Rath Yatra Snana Yatra Besha Suna Besha Texts Bhagavata Purana Brahma Purana Gita Govinda Kapila Purana Madala Panji Skanda Purana Dahuka boli Devotees Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayadeva Salabega Sarala Dasa Indradyumna See also Gahana Vije Mahaprasad Nilachal Nila Chakra Neela Madhava Samkha Kshetra Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955 ISKCON Category