One of the most vibrant spiritual festivals in the world, Jagannath Puri Yatra, is explored in this blog. Discover every aspect of the Yatra, from its construction under Anantavarman Chodaganga to the symbolism behind the wooden abstract forms and the many festivals celebrated during the duration of the sacred Yatra that attracts pilgrims from all over the globe.
🔹 Rath Yatra 2026 is scheduled for July 16 (Thursday)
🔹 Honoring Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra
🔹 Grand chariots pulled by thousands of devotees
🔹 Rituals include Pahandi, Chhera Pahara, and Suna Besha
🔹 Chariots rebuilt annually using 4000+ wood pieces
🔹 Symbolizes devotion, equality, and spiritual liberation
Each year in June-July, over a million devotees gather on the Grand Road of Puri, Odisha, for one of Hinduism’s most soul-stirring spectacles the Jagannath Rath Yatra. With sky-high wooden chariots, ancient chants, and deep spiritual symbolism, this festival is a divine pilgrimage of unity, surrender, and liberation.
In this blog, explore the full journey from the sacred temple architecture and unique wooden idols to the detailed rituals that bring millions to their knees in devotion. Let’s unravel the history, meaning, and schedule of the Jagannath Puri Yatra 2026.
This year the Lord Jagannath Puri Yatra will be organized on 16th July 2026, Thursday / ଗୁରୁବାର (Gurubār). It is celebrated annually on the Dwitiya Tithi (second day) of the fortnight of the month (Shukla Paksha) of Ashadh month as per the Hindu calendar.
Dwitiya Tithi Begins - 11:50 AM on July 15, 2026
Dwitiya Tithi Ends - 08:52 AM on July 16, 2026
The word ‘Ratha yatra’ is derived from two Sanskrit words namely- ‘Ratha’ meaning chariot or carriage, and ‘Jatra?’ meaning journey or pilgrimage. Other names for the festival are Ratha Jatra or chariot festival. India, the land of festivals is host to many colorful celebrations and the most grand of these is the Rath Yatra in Puri. Rath Yatra, meaning "Chariot Journey," is a sacred spiritual procession in the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, honoring Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, along with his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Each year, their sacred wooden idols are placed on colossal chariots and pulled by thousands of devotees along Puri’s Grand Road to the Gundicha Temple symbolizing a visit to their aunt’s home. This journey of the gods is seen as an act of divine grace, offering salvation to those who even touch the ropes of the chariots.
The Rath Yatra is the most famous festival of the Lord Jagannath temple. It involves the deities of the temple being taken in a grand procession to the Gundicha Mata temple which was constructed in honor of Queen Gundicha who is considered to be the aunt of Lord Jagannath. So in a way the rath yatra symbolizes the visit of the deity to his aunt’s house.
The Yatra represents Lord Jagannath’s symbolic journey to his aunt’s home (Gundicha Temple). It fosters a deep sense of spiritual equality, where kings and commoners pull the same ropes.
🔸Touching or pulling the chariot ropes is believed to absolve sins
🔸Marks self-surrender and devotion to the Lord
🔸Reinforces the principle of universal equality
Located in Puri, Odisha the Lord Jagannath temple is a sight to behold. Built in the traditional Kalinga style of architecture the temple was built centuries ago by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. It houses the idols of the presiding deity Lord Jagannath who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra.
These idols are very peculiar in appearance because they are not like the ones we see in temples usually. They are carved from wood and have a very abstract form, especially Lord Jagannath’s eyes which are wide open. The Lord Jagannath Puri temple is of extreme importance to Hindus all over the world. These are replaced every 12–19 years in a ritual called Navakalevara.
It is considered to be one of the Char Dhams or the 4 sacred pilgrimage centers of Hindus. It is believed that by visiting these Char Dhams a person can attain liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. This is one of the reasons why thousands of devotees pay a visit to this beautiful temple every year.
The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are placed on grand chariots which are pulled by thousands of devotees through the streets of Puri. The construction of the chariots begins on Akshaya Tritiya. Every year new chariots are constructed for this magnificent festival.
🔸4000 pieces of wood used per year
🔸42 days of construction by traditional artisan families
🔸Viswakarma Sevakas - Separate group of carpenters and artisans whose families have hereditary rights to craft these chariots can be involved in this process.
🔸Name of Groups of carpenters and artisans - Badhei Maharanas, Pahi Maharanas, Kamara Kanta Nayakas (Ojha Maharanas), Chandakaras, Rupakaras, Murtikaras, Chitrakaras (Painters and artists), Suchikaras (Daraji Sevakas), and Ratha Bhois.
🔸The Ratha or chariots of Sri Jagannatha, Balarama, and Subhadra are at the center of the Jagannatha Ratha Yatra festival.
🔸Every Ratha is a mirror to the powers and aura of the deity it carries and is traditionally designed to house them
🔸Garudadhvaja or Kapidhvaja (that which has Garuda or Hanuman on the flag).
🔸It is protected by Garuda, the sacred mount of Vishnu
🔸Decorated with red and yellow cloth, yellow being the color of Vishnu’s Pitambara (yellow-colored garments).
🔸It is 45 feet height and 34 feet 6 inches in both length and breadth.
🔸The chariot has 16 wheels and is driven by the charioteer Daruka.
🔸Constructed with precision from 763 pieces of wood.
🔸4 white horses attached with the Rath - Shankha, Balahaka, Suweta and Haridashwa.
🔸It is guarded by Basudeva
🔸Decorated with vibrant hues of red, blue, and green, each piece bears the intricate artistry of Chandua the celebrated needlework tradition of Pipli village in Odisha.
🔸The chariot has 14 wheels and is driven by Matali.
🔸The chariot has a height of 43 feet and 33 feet in both length and breadth.
🔸Chariot (rath) of Balabhadra is drawn 4 black horses named - Tribra, Ghora, Dirghasharma, and Swornanava.
🔸Devadalana (that which tramples pride, or pride of gods)
🔸Padmadhvaja (that which has the lotus flower on its flag).
🔸It is guarded by Jayadurga
🔸Covered in red and black colors of cloth adorned with the intricate appliqué work of Pipli.
🔸The chariot has 12 wheels and is driven by a charioteer named Arjuna.
🔸The chariot measuring 42 feet 3 inches in height and 31 feet 6 inches in both length and breadth.
🔸Constructed with precision from 593 pieces of wood.
🔸Four red horses lead this divine chariot Rochika, Mochika, Jita, and Aparajita
Each divine chariot is graced by two celestial gatekeepers, one accompanying deity, and nine Parshvadevatas. What first enchants the devotees is the vibrant decoration every inch of the Rath is adorned with sacred colours, motifs, and handcrafted appliqué cloth from Pipli, depicting flowers, foliage, Rahu, and Chandra.
Wooden carvings inspired by Odisha’s temple architecture, and the wheels and frames are painted with traditional patterns. Floral garlands adorn the front, while Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balabhadra wear towering tahias majestic crowns made of lotus flowers, leaves, and cork.
Each Rath bears a crest banner and is tied with four ropes made of coconut fibre. Every detail reflects deep devotion and the timeless artistry of Odisha’s craftsmen a moving temple crafted in love and faith.
The Lord Jagannath Puri yatra holds immense spiritual significance. It is a way for many devotees of Lord Jagannath to gain his mercy. It is believed that whoever pulls or even touches the ropes attached to these chariots is absolved of his or her sins and attains freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is a symbol of devotion and immense love for the divine. It is also a symbol of unity. When thousands of devotees pull the chariots the gesture stands as a mark of their unity. People from all walks of life participate in this grand event.
Many rituals of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra are symbolic of equality as well. For instance, the act of sweeping the chariots performed by the King of Puri signifies that everyone is equal in the eyes of God irrespective of their caste, profession, gender, status, etc.
The festival of Rath Yatra contains within itself several other festivals, rituals, and stories-
The Gundicha Mata temple is cleaned one day before the Rath Yatra begins. This ritual of cleansing the temple is called Gundicha Marjana (marjana means cleaning). There are a lot of other rituals and ceremonies that are a part of this majestic procession.
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra begins with the ceremonial procession of carrying the idols of the three deities from the temples and placing them on the wooden chariots. First, the idol of Lord Balabhadra is taken out, this is followed by the idol of Devi Subhadra, and finally, the idol of Lord Jagannath is taken out. This ceremony is called Pahandi.
The movement is of two kinds- Dhadi Pahandi (which means moving in a line), which happens when the gods move out of the temple, and Goti Pahandi (moving alone), when the gods come back. The movement is always accompanied by a crowd of devotees, priests, and musicians playing traditional insituments such as ghanta, telingi baja and kahali.
This ritual takes place on the first day of Ratha Yatra. In this, the Gajapati King dresses as a sweeper and cleans the chariots with brooms with golden handles. The King sprinkles sandalwood water on the chariot. This symbolizes that everyone is equal in the eyes of God.
Once the Chhera Pahara is done, the chariots are tied to idols of horses. Four wooden idols for each chariot. The trumpet is blown and gongs are beaten. The whole atmosphere comes alive with these sounds, and this marks the start of the pulling of the chariots. The devotees sing hymns and songs in praise of Lord Jagannath as they pull the chariots.
When the procession reaches the Gundicha Mata temple, the idols of the deities are bathed and dressed. Apart from this, when the chariots reach the Gundicha Mata temple, the deities are taken inside the temple ceremonially. The deities reside in the temple for 7 days, and during this time, all the rituals that are usually performed in the Lord Jagannath temple are performed here as well.
At the Gundicha temple, a day before the deities come back to Jagannatha temple, the ritual of Sandhya Darshan takes place. It starts with Abakash Niti (morning purification), Abakash Besh (the pure attire, in which deities wear only white clothes with no jewelry), and Sakala Dhupa (morning food). The ritual culminates in Sandhya Aarti, during which the three deities dress in the special Sandhya Besha.
Aarti, Bhog, and Odissi performance on Gita Govind accompany the ritual of Sandhya Darshan. It is believed that whoever gets to witness the deities during the evening darshans is blessed by the Lord. The Sandhya Darshans of the deities in the Adapa Mandapa of the temple are equivalent to 10 years of darshans of them residing in the Lord Jagannath Puri temple.
Hera Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day. It marks the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi at the temple in search of Lord Jagannath. It is a colorful ritual that is a delightful sight for the devotees. According to the temple legends, when goddess Lakshmi discovers that Jagannath has left her behind, she visits him in the Gundicha temple.
After reaching, the goddess fights with her husband and breaks (symbolically) a part of his ratha Nanidghosha, to show her anger. After this, to avoid enraging their elder, Balabhadra, Lakshmi takes a separate path called “Hera Ghori” lane and goes back to her temple.
To perform this ritual, a golden idol of the goddess called “Subarna Mahalakshmi” (subarna-golden) is taken out in a procession. The idol is dressed in Rajarajeshwari Besha, a royal attire, seated on a golden palki and taken to visit her husband.
After the stay of the deities at the Gundicha Mata temple, the procession is taken from there to the Lord Jagannath temple. This part of the Rath Yatra is called the Bahuda Yatra. The devotees gear up again to pull the chariots of the deities. Bahuda in Odia means “return”. After the performance of aarti, bhoga, and ratha ropan (getting up on the chariot), the deities reach Mausi Ma Temple. From there, they reach the Simhadwara, the gate of the Sri Mandir at Jagannath Puri.
This part of the Lord Jagannath Puri yatra is marked by a halt at the Mausi Maa temple, where the deities are served a bhog of Poda Pitha. It is a special type of cake that is offered to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
On the Shukla Ekadashi, the deities are adorned with ornaments of gold when their chariots are stationed in front of the Sinha Dwara or the Lion Gate of the Lord Jagannath Puri temple. This ceremony is called the Suna Besha, named after the golden (suna) attire worn by the deities. This form of Jagannatha is also called Rajadhiraj Besha, a representation of the god as the Lord of the Universe.
On the next day, which is the Shukla Dwadashi, a special type of drink which is prepared by mixing milk, cheese, sugar, and spices. However, it is not offered to the deities, but to the spirits, Yogini, Gana, Pretas that accompany their chariots during the Yatra. “Adhara” means base, and “pana” means drink.
Thus, the drink made is given to those who are at the lowest levels of ritual, to acknowledge and pay respect to them, so that they do not have any negative effect on the festivities or lives of the devotees. Since it involves worship of spirits for their pacification, Adhara Pana is often related to Tantric rituals.
Finally, the next day, the deities are carried in a procession inside the Lord Jagannath temple. This is called Niladri Bije. “Niladri” is the blue mountain, another name for the Jagannath Temple, and “bije” means return. As the deities reach the temple, Lakshmi, who is still angry, blocks the Simhadwara. To please her, Jagannatha sends Rasagulla. Once the goddess is pleased, the deities are allowed inside.
In a procession or Pahandi, the Daitapati leads the gods inside the temple, where they are reestablished and worshipped with elaborate rituals to mark the completion of their journey (yatra).
This festival transcends caste, class, and creed. The act of a king performing menial tasks like sweeping reinforces the core spiritual teaching all are equal before God. Participation in pulling the chariots is an open invitation to all, from commoners to royalty. The Rath Yatra of the Lord Jagannath in Puri temple is a symbol of spiritual devotion and unity. It is a festival that unites thousands of people and brings peace to many.
The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is an annual religious festival celebrated in Puri, Odisha, where the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are taken in grand wooden chariots to the Gundicha Temple. Devotees from all over the world gather to pull these chariots as an act of devotion.
The Rath Yatra in 2026 will take place on 16th July 2026 (Thursday / गुरुवार). It is celebrated annually on the Dwitiya Tithi (second day) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadh.
It is believed that touching or pulling the ropes of the chariots of Jagannatha, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, all sins, and a person is liberated from Samsara (cycle of birth and death). The act of pulling the chariot represents supreme self-surrender, of physical, mental, and spiritual focus in the service of the Lord, which brings the highest Punya (merit).
The chariots are crafted from scratch every year using over 4000 pieces of wood. Only artisans from families with hereditary rights are allowed to participate in this sacred task, which takes around 42 days.
The Shree Gundicha Temple is believed to be the home of Lord Jagannath’s aunt. The Rath Yatra is a symbolic journey of the Lord to visit her. The deities reside there for seven days, during which rituals are performed as in the main temple. Gundicha is identified by local legends as the queen of King Indradyumna, who built the temple. Others connect her with the local goddess of smallpox or Gundi, who removes the disease from her devotees.
If attending in person, reach Puri early and for a safe viewing, find a spot along the Grand Road (Bada Danda). Otherwise, several television channels and online platforms livestream the event each year.
The most unique part about this festival is that these chariots are pulled by devotees of the Lord. From the Chhera Pahara which symbolizes unity to Hera Panchami which is a celebration of Goddess Lakshmi’s visit to the Gundicha Mata temple in search of Lord Jagannath, each ritual is special and vibrant.
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is more than a religious celebration it's a cultural and spiritual spectacle that unites people from all backgrounds. Whether you attend in person or witness it online, the Yatra offers a unique glimpse into India's enduring spiritual traditions.
🌼 Want to experience the divine spirit of Rath Yatra 2026? Mark your calendars and immerse yourself in a celebration that transcends time and faith.
Your email address will not be published *
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist