Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Why are the idols of Lord Jagannath changed only in 12 years? They are made from these woods

Jagannath Temple: Every year a grand Rath Yatra is organized from the Jagannath temple in which thousands of people from all over the country come to participate. Many beliefs related to the Jagannath temple have been going on for centuries. One of these traditions is to change the idols of Jagannath ji every 12 years.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Puri's Sri Jagannath Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Jagannath i.e. Shri Krishna. This temple is one of the four Dhams of Hindus. In this temple, there are grand idols of Lord Krishna along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. There is a tradition of changing these idols every 12 years. But the question is why this tradition of changing the idol is being followed for centuries and what wood is used to make these idols?

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra

The annual Rath Yatra festival of Shri Jagannath Temple is famous all over the world. This yatra is mainly taken out on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Ashad month. For the grand yatra of Jagannath, three separate chariots of Lord Shri Krishna, Balram, and Devi Subhadra are built. In which the chariot of Balram ji moves in the front, sister Subhadra in the middle and the chariot of Lord Jagannath ji moves at the back. After sitting on the chariots, the Lord goes to his aunt's house, Gundicha temple.

Why does the statue change every 12 years?

The idols of the Jagannath temple are replaced every 12 years. This tradition of replacing the idols is called 'Navakalebara'. Navakalevara means new body. Under this, the old idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan installed in the Jagannath temple are replaced with new idols. The idols of Lord Jagannath are made of wood and there is a fear of them decaying, so they are replaced every 12 years.

The tradition of Navkalevara is confidential

At the time when the idols are changed, the lights of the entire city are turned off and darkness is created everywhere. This is done so that the process of changing the idols can be kept confidential. While changing the idols, only one chief priest is present there and his eyes are also blindfolded. This is done so that the process of changing the idols remains completely confidential.

Sculptures are made from this wood

These idols are made from neem wood. The chief priest of the Jagannath temple first selects the right trees for the new idols. The trees should be neem trees which are at least 100 years old and should not have any kind of defect. These trees are cut and brought to the temple. The wood is then given the shape of three deities.