Every year in Odisha, India, there's a huge festival called the Jagannath Yatra — most people know it as the Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival. It's one of the biggest religious events in the region. During this time, Lord Jagannath, along with his brother and sister, is moved from the temple and placed on giant wooden chariots. People, who come fom different parts of the world to Puri, pull these chariots with energy, devotion, and sheer scale to make it a truly unforgettable experience.
Annually, the Chariot festival starts on Dwitiya tithi (the second day) of the waxing phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Ashadha, along with the Yatra concluding after 9 days. As per the Gregorian Calendar, it comes in the month of either June or July. This year, the “Jagannath Rath Yatra” starts from the 27th of June 2025.
As per “Drik Panchang”, the “tithi” for “Jagannath Rath Yatra” or “Puri Rath Yatra” in 2025 is as follows:
For millions of Hindus, this isn’t just a festival—it’s a powerful moment of devotion and joy. During the Rath Yatra, as Lord Jagannath starts a cherished journey to his aunt’s home, the city of Puri gets filled with a wave of spiritual energy. As the sacred chariots move gracefully through the streets of Puri, a profound sense of divinity fills the air. The devotees, visiting Puri from India and around the world, lit oil lamps illuminating the path and chant sacred hymns to make the city a sanctified space.
While Puri in Odisha is the most renowned for this festival, it's also celebrated with great enthusiasm in several other parts of India and across the world at prominent Jagannath temples.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra has ancient origins, stretching back thousands of years in Hindu tradition. Many Hindu Shastras, such as the Padma Purana, Brahma Purana, and Skanda Purana have mentioned the spiritual significance of the 9 days divine Yatra, reflecting its deep connection to sacred tradition.
Every year, Lord Jagannath, with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, sets out on a deeply cherished nine-day journey from the Jagannath Temple in Puri to the Gundicha Temple. The annual trip to their aunt’s home is filled with colour, happiness, and deep devotion.
As per Hindu beliefs, Lord Jagannath is honoured as the Lord of the Universe and the beloved deity of Puri, the sacred city where the Rath Yatra takes place.
The preparations for Jagannath Rath Yatra begin months in advance before the actual festival arrives in the holy city of Puri. At first, the skilled artisans prepare wooden chariots for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra using traditional techniques. As per the Hindu Shastras, there is a specific name for each majestic chariot: Nandighosh (for Lord Jagannath), Taladhwajas (for Lord Balabhadra), and Darpadalanas (for Devi Subhadra).
As the Rath Yatra starts, thousands of devotees visit the Jagannath Temple at Puri to observe the ceremonial procession when the priests of the temple bring the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra out of the temple to place on the chariots adorned with colourful fabrics, flowers, and artwork. After this, they are pulled through the streets of Puri by the devotees, covering a distance of approximately 3 km from Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. The Hindus consider it a divine blessing to participate in this act of service.
The utmost significance of this occasion lies in the belief that whosoever gets a chance to pull the sacred chariots or even the connected roles gains spiritual blessings from the Almighty. People also consider getting a glimpse of the deities on their chariots very fortunate.
The Pandits of the temple also perform many rituals during the procession, including ceremonial cleaning and painting the chariots. The devotees chant hymns and bhajans,filling the air with utmost devotion.
As they reach the Gundicha Temple, the deities stay there for nine days. The devotees keep on visiting the holy site to offer prayers. The 9th day is called “Bahuda Yatra” when the deities get on a return journey to the Jagannath temple.
As they reach the Gundicha Temple, the deities stay there for nine days. The devotees keep on visiting the holy site to offer prayers. The 9th day is called “Bahuda Yatra” when the deities get on a return journey to the Jagannath temple.
For those who embark on the sacred journey of the Rath Yatra, regard this as a profound opportunity for inner purification and an opening of the heart to the boundless blessings of Lord Jagannath.
People come to Puri during Jagannath Rath Yatra for the darshan (the sacred sight) of Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Devi Subhadra. The holy texts believe that getting a single glance of the deities during the festival offers divine grace to the devotees and strengthens their souls on their spiritual paths.
The Rath Yatra, being a message of onwards, vanishes all the distinctions. As people from different castes and social statuses unite in devotion carrying the sacred chariots to the Gundicha Temple, the streets of Puri become a live example of spiritual equality.
There’s something deeply humbling about pulling the Lord’s chariot. It’s not a ritual done out of duty, but seva bhav —an offering of yourself, exactly as you are. At that moment , with each pull, you drop your guards and divinely surrender to the almighty.
As we speak of purification—not in some dramatic way, but in the soft sense of returning to who you truly are. The weight you didn’t know you were carrying begins to fall away. A sense of stillness, a journey of inner healing begins.
There is a divine resonance that arises when hearts gather in the name of the Lord—a presence beyond words. During the Rath Yatra, devotees from all walks of life come together. They walk, sing, and chant in great devotion to experience oneness with the Supreme, remembering that we are all children of Lord Jagannath—bound by love, devotion. The eternal truth that the Divine dwells equally within all.
Rath Yatra is not just a celebration—it is a sacred invitation to reflect, surrender, and experience closeness with the Divine. It teaches us humility as we pull the chariot, reminding us that true service doesn’t seek recognition. It encourages us to let go of pride, trust the journey, and open our hearts fully to the will of the Lord.
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