What’s My Favorite Holiday? The One That Feels Like Home

Some people wait all year for Diwali lights or Christmas trees. For me, it’s Rath Jatra. No questions. No fancy explanations. Just raw emotion. It’s the one day that feels like a warm hug from the past.

Why? Because Rath Jatra is not just a festival. It’s a feeling. The streets come alive. The air smells different. There’s a kind of chaos that doesn’t stress you out but somehow calms your soul. Even if I’m watching it on TV with a plate of food in hand, it still moves something inside me. The chants, the rhythm of the drums, the slow pull of the massive chariot — it has a power that’s hard to explain.

As a child, I remember waking up before sunrise, getting ready with so much excitement as if it were my birthday. We never had a fixed plan. Some years we went to the temple, other times we just stayed home and soaked in the atmosphere. But no matter where I was, I felt the same energy. That energy is what made it stick.

Over time, my bond with this festival changed. It became quieter but deeper. It’s no longer just about the rituals. It’s about belonging. Rath Jatra connects me to my roots. It reminds me of who I am and what matters. Not the deadlines or the emails or the next big thing. But family. Culture. Simplicity. Faith.

One year, heavy rain stopped us from going out. We sat together as a family and watched the whole thing live on TV. Funny thing is, it felt just as real. That day I understood something. The magic isn’t just outside. It lives in us.

Rath Jatra is my reminder that you don’t need loud celebrations to feel joy. Sometimes, all it takes is a wooden chariot, some familiar sounds, and a heart that’s open.

And that’s why it’s my favorite. Because every single time, it brings me back to myself.