The grand Jagannath Rath Yatra has commenced today in Puri, Odisha, with thousands of devotees gathering to witness the annual procession of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra. The deities begin their 12-day journey from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be their aunt’s residence.
The yatra is marked by sacred rituals, starting with “Chhera Panhara,” performed by the King of Puri before the chariots are pulled. All three wooden chariots—Taladhwaj (Balabhadra), Darpadalana (Subhadra), and Nandighosh (Jagannath)—have been readied and will be pulled through Grand Road (Bada Danda) by thousands of devotees.
Before the yatra, devotees had the rare opportunity of witnessing the Nabajouban Darshan, a ritual where the deities appear in youthful form after their recovery from an illness following the Snana Yatra. This marks their return from the “Anasara Ghar” (quarantine room).
Security Measures Tightened
To ensure the safe conduct of the festival, ADG Traffic Dayal Gangwar stated that an AI-powered Integrated Command and Control Centre has been established. Over 500 CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, and a dedicated war room are monitoring traffic and crowd management. Civil and traffic police, along with disaster management teams, are on high alert throughout the city.
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 Schedule:
- June 27 (Friday): Rath Yatra begins
- July 1 (Tuesday): Hera Panchami – Lakshmi’s symbolic visit to express displeasure
- July 4 (Friday): Sandhya Darshan – Special evening darshan at Gundicha Temple
- July 5 (Saturday): Bahuda Yatra – Return journey to Jagannath Temple
- July 6 (Sunday): Suna Besa – Deities adorned in gold ornaments
- July 7 (Monday): Adhara Pana – Offering of a sweet traditional drink
- July 8 (Tuesday): Niladri Vijay – The final day when deities return to sanctum
The festival, celebrated for centuries, is one of India’s largest and most spiritually significant religious gatherings. Preparations for the 2025 yatra had started months in advance to ensure smooth execution of rituals and crowd control.
