One of the most important festivals at Lingaraj
Temple in Bhubaneswar in Odisha is the Rukuna Rath
Yatra. It is the chariot procession of Hindu God Shiva. Rukuna Rath Yatra 2024 date is April 16. The annual festival is observed in Chaitra month. It is believed that Lord Brahma is the charioteer of Lingaraj (Shiva) on Rukuna Rath Yatra day.
The chariot used in Rukuna Rath Yatra at Lingaraj Temple
Rukuna Rath is also called ‘analeuta’ chariot – this is
because the chariot does not take any turn during the entire journey.
During the return journey too the chariot is not turned. The
direction of altars of the gods is changed and the chariot is pulled from the
backside.
Thousands of people visit the temple during the period. The
journey is from the Lingaraj
Temple
The chariot festival is observed on Chaitra Shukla Paksha
Ashtami or the eighth day during the waxing phase of the moon. The day is
observed as Ashoka Ashtami in Odisha.