Millions of people travel to Puri in Odisha for the famous Ratha Yatra festival. It is not meant only for people with faith. It is a major cultural event held annually. If you plan to travel to India in 2025, this is definitely something you should add to your trip.
During Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri, people here feel spiritual transcendence. Because of the traditional rites, fancy chariots, and large crowds of followers, you can enjoy both reverence and the mystery of religion.
Whether you hope for luck or want to see one of the major Famous Festivals Celebrated in North India, this information includes guides to when they happen, what rituals are involved, and top touring tips.
What Makes this Festival So Significant?
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is a celebration for Lord Jagannath, together with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, all Avatars of Lord Vishnu. The festival is unique because the deities emerge from the temple and travel through the town in a big procession. This makes it possible for everyone to learn about them.
The spiritual significance of the journey comes from showing Divine figures coming from holy places to be with their followers openly. The Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra allows everyone to participate without considering their caste or religion. Because of this, the holiday becomes truly open to everyone.
History: The Beginnings of the Jagannath Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra is believed to have started over 5,000 years ago, and its present style emerged when King Anantavarman Chodaganga built the Jagannath Temple in the 12th century.
According to legends, Lord Jagannath wishes to go to his birthplace once every year. The Rath Yatra ends at the Gundicha Temple, which is said to be the birthplace of the three deities and was Queen Gundicha’s palace, the wife of King Indradyumna, who built the temple.
The Jagannath cult includes influences from Hinduism, Buddhism, and tribal traditions. Idols made from wood and particular rituals show tribal roots, whereas the beliefs behind the worship are closely tied to Vaishnavism.
Even through times of foreign attacks and difficulties, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra happened mostly without interruption, demonstrating how significant it still is in Indian religious practices.
Essential Dates and Schedule
On June 27, 2025, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra festival will begin. This day is observed as the Dwitiya Tithi within the bright fortnight of the Hindu month Ashadha. It’s an 11-day festival, but the team starts getting ready several months in advance. These are some meaningful rituals you should be present for:
Akshaya Tritiya (April 30) marks the start of making the chariot.
Snana Purnima (June 11): The deities have 108 pots filled with water for bathing every year.
Anavasara (June 13–26): Hindu deities step back to focus on relaxation.
Gundicha Marjana (June 26): It is common to purify the Gundicha Temple on this day ritually.
Rath Yatra (June 27): This is the day when the main procession and ceremonies are held.
Hera Panchami On July 1, Lakshmi pays a visit to Gundicha Temple.
Sandhya Darshan (July 3): Seeing the deities during the evening.
Bahuda Yatra (July 5): Procession of pulling the chariots back to the Jagannath Temple.
Suna Besha (July 6): Deities are dressed in gold robes.
Adhara Pana (July 7): Families prepare and share a special drink.
Niladri Bijay (July 8): Bringing deities back to the main temple.
The Ratha Yatra festival in Puri goes on for several days. It involves many spiritual rites along the way.
The Magnificent Chariots
There are numerous wooden chariots, each special because of their appearance, colors, and size.
- Nandighosa (Jagannath): It stands 45 feet tall, has 16 wheels, and is covered with red and yellow canopies.
- Taladhwaja (Balabhadra): 45.8 feet in height, 14 wheels, and the canopy is red and green.
- Darpadalana (Subhadra): It is 44.6 feet tall, has 12 wheels, and has a red and black canopy.
The main priest ensures that good artisans car a newly created chariot from neem wood every year. During the main day, the gods are pulled from the temple on a decorated cart, put on their chariots, and brought three kilometers to the Gundicha Temple.
It is a common belief that the gods do powering the chariot. Cleaning one’s sins is believed to happen through holding or moving the chariot’s rope during the Puri Jagannath Mandir Rath Yatra, which is why it is visited by many.
Specific Rituals That Make this Festival Unique
Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri is known for including interesting and meaningful rituals.
1. Chhera Panhara
It is the most humbling of all customs. The chariot decks are swept during the ritual by the King of Puri with a golden broom. The act shows that even a king must submit to the divine.
2. Brahma Paribartan
It is about putting the primary spiritual energy from the deities into a statue. This is known as the Brahma Padartha – when new idols are created during the Nabakalebara year. The ritual requires a few priests to do it, masking their eyes and completely closing them. It shows what reincarnation really looks like.
3. Snana Purnima and Anavasara
On Snana Purnima, the idols are bathed, and after that, they are considered “sick” and kept in quarantine for 15 days. At this point, the myth introduces ideas of healing, regeneration, and humanity in the gods.
How to Reach Puri for the Jagannath Ratha Yatra
By Air: Air is the main method of transportation, and flights arrive at the Bhubaneswar airport, 60 km outside of Puri. The major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata are directly connected to Puri through its transportation system. Anyone traveling from abroad to Puri will need to go through Kolkata first.
By Rail: You can travel by rail from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai to Puri, which is the terminus station. Choosing Neelachal Express, Puri Express, or Sri Jagannath Express is the best way to journey by train.
By Road: A State Highway 8 link connects the city of Puri to Bhubaneswar via road. Buses, taxis, and cabs run both on government schedules and privately, and the trip takes about 2 hours.
You can avoid travel problems by choosing custom tour packages ahead of time. Because of this, you pay full attention to the spiritual and cultural aspects of the Yatra.
Make Sure Not to Miss These During Your Yatra
Participating in the Ratha Yatra at Puri means living in the moment and appreciating the joy. These experiences should be on every traveler’s list for an unforgettable trip:
1. Pulling the Chariots
A heartfelt and memorable time for Rath Yatra was when the chariots were pulled into the temple. A large number of worshipers join hands and pull the huge structures forward. People believe that as soon as someone performs the act, they will be blessed, and their old sins will be cleared.
Take part in the Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri if possible—it’s a tremendous spiritual blessing!
2. Enjoy the special Mahaprasad
A trip to Puri should always include eating Mahaprasad. The Mahaprasad meal is first presented to Lord Jagannath and then distributed to those attending.
Mahaprasad is vegetarian, very delicious, and cooked by thousands in one of the biggest temple kitchens using age-old strategies.
The huge amounts of Mahaprasad can be found at Ananda Bazar, close to the temple, during Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra. Try Poda Pitha, which is a cake filled with rice and coconut and is offered at the Mausi Maa Temple during the Bahuda Yatra.
3. Go to the Gundicha Temple.
The main destination for the divine chariot procession is the Gundicha Temple, which stands about 3 kilometers from the main Jagannath Temple. People say that the deity was born in this simple temple, and its idols are placed here for seven days.
Key Highlights
Even after the Gundicha Temple ritual, the festivities proceed longer.
1. Hera Panchami (July 1, 2025)
The festival tells of the Goddess Lakshmi looking for her husband, Lord Jagannath, at the Gundicha Temple. It is a special and gentle part of what happens during the Jagannath Puri festival. By doing this, love, longing, and making amends can be seen.
2. Sandhya Darshan (July 3, 2025)
Many believe that the evening temple deities located at Gundicha Temple are mighty. It is said in religious scriptures that seeing the deities in the Gundicha Temple during this journey is considered the same as worshipping them in their main temple for a decade.
3. Bahuda Yatra (July 5, 2025)
As part of this day, the gods return and reside in the sacred Jagannath Temple again. Many more followers add to the procession as the chariot returns to the Jagannath Temple. People visiting the Mausi Maa Temple come to give Poda Pitha to the deities as an act of maternal affection.
4. Suna Besha (July 6, 2025)
Silver horses draw the chariots, and the gods have gold jewelry. Many people and photographers like this event because it is so beautiful.
5. Adhara Pana (July 7, 2025)
Before eating the prasad, people offer large pots of milk, cheese, spices, and sugar to the deities by breaking the pots into pieces. People take part in this custom to show they are thankful and humble.
6. Niladri Bijay (July 8, 2025)
In the last part of the ritual, the deities are returned to their place within the temple. Afterward, regular ceremonies and prayers happen at the temple again.
Tips for Visiting Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025
- Travel to Puri about 2 or 3 days early to calm down and begin your visit to the site.
- Wear comfortable and modest clothing. White is considered the ideal choice.
- Drink plenty of water since warm weather can cause dehydration.
- Be ready for large crowds (estimated at 3-5 million). Be with your group and decide where to meet if you are separated.
- Bring a camera with good zoom because it might be hard to get close to the chariots.
- Don’t wear shoes around holy places and eat only vegetarian dishes while the festival is ongoing out of respect for the locals.
- Remember to bring basic medicine, sunscreen, and a hat or an umbrella for sun protection.
- During crowded hours, your network might be unavailable, so have backup ways to stay in touch.
The Bottom Line
The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is not only a religious celebration but also a bright cultural event that has been celebrated for many years. Visiting the festival lets you receive blessings from Lord Jagannath or reach out to India’s traditional spirit in a unique way. The year 2025 promises another memorable celebration of faith, tradition, and unity.
Though the Rath Yatra is a great event, numerous pilgrims also spend time visiting the regular temple.
You can also watch the complete detailed guide on Jagannath Rath Yatra below:
On June 29, 2025, the Jagannath Rath Yatra will start by carrying Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. The Bahuda Yatra (return journey) is set to begin on July 7, 2025.
Jagannath Rath Yatra marks Lord Jagannath’s visit every year to the Gundicha Temple near Puri, where he stays nine days before returning to his main temple. Because of the festival, Lord Jagannath shows that he doesn’t just remain in the temple but instead comes to everyone with faith in him, breaking down caste or religious background barriers.
The whole celebration of Jagannath Rath Yatra will last for nine days. Jagannath Temple is the starting point, and the first day ends at Gundicha Temple. For seven days, the deities are at Gundicha Temple, and on the ninth day, they start their Bahuda Yatra and return to their core temple.
Foreigners can attend the Rath Yatra. The Jagannath Temple does not permit non-Hindus, but all can join the Rath Yatra procession.
Rath Yatra is a special occasion when various Prasads (divine offerings) are prepared, like Poda Pitha, Manda Pitha, Kakara, and the famous Mahaprasad (sancarua with 56 food ingredients).
It is not allowed to touch the idol of Lord Jagannath. The deity can only be felt by temple priests.
