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Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025, History, Rituals and Significance

The Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025, one of the most celebrated religious festivals in India, will commence on June 27, 2025, in Puri, Odisha. This centuries-old tradition attracts millions of devotees and tourists from across the world who come to witness the majestic procession of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, on grand chariots.

The Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra festival is a symbol of devotion, equality, unity, and tradition, and is deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual fabric of India.

Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025

The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, is celebrated annually in Puri, Odisha. This vibrant event, steeped in rich cultural heritage and deep religious fervour, attracts millions of devotees from across the globe. It is one of the world’s oldest and biggest religious festivals, with attendees numbering in the millions of devotees and tourists alike who come to participate in the pulling of the chariots, a very auspicious activity said to wash away sins and impart blessings. Months in advance, preparations start for the making of the new chariots.

puri jagannath yatra

  • Festival: Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025

  • Main Date: June 27, 2025, Friday (Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in Ashadha)

  • Duration: June 12–July 5

  • Location: Puri, Odisha; ~58 km from Bhubaneswar; well-connected via rail, road, air
  • Main Attraction: Three massive chariots and deity processions

  • Notable Rituals: Snana Purnima, Chhera Pahanra, Suna Besha, Niladri Bijay

Unique Chariots
Nandighosa: Lord Jagannath’s chariot (16 wheels).
Taladhwaja: Lord Balabhadra’s chariot (
14 wheels).
Darpadalana: Goddess Subhadra’s chariot (
12 wheels).

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Date and Timings

Key Events Date Details
Snana Purnima June 12, 2025
  • Bathing Ceremony
  • This ceremony is the official start of the Rath Yatra celebrations when the deities are bathed with 108 pitchers of holy water.
Anavasara June 13–26
  • Rest/Isolation Period
  • After Snana Purnima, the gods are said to become “ill” and enter a 15-day isolation period, where they are not seen by outsiders and undergo herbal medication.
Gundicha Marjana June 26
  • Temple Cleaning
Rath Yatra (Main Festival) June 27, 2025
  • Main Chariot Festival
  • This is the main day when the three deities are taken out in a grand procession (Pahandi) and positioned on their respective gigantic wooden chariots. Thousands of devotees pull these chariots along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to the Gundicha Temple, which is treated as their aunt’s house.
Hera Panchami 1st July 2025
  • On this day, Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Jagannathcomes to Gundicha Temple to meet him, showing her annoyance at having been left behind.
Bahuda Yatra 4th July 2025
  • Return Chariot Procession
  • The deities return from their seven-day sojourn in the Gundicha Temple and take up residence once again in the main Jagannath Temple.
Suna Besha July 5, 2025
  • Golden Attire
  • The following day after the Bahuda Yatra, the deities are dressed in grand golden attire, a wondrous spectacle for devotees.
Niladri Bijay July 5, 2025
  • Return to Main Temple
  • This is the last ritual in which the deities are ritually placed back in the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple, the end of the festival.

ECoR Yatra App Launched for Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has launched the ‘ECoR Yatra’ app ahead of the Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri to assist millions of pilgrims with real-time travel information. Available on the Google Play Store, the app provides live train updates, special train schedules, platform details, lodging options, and booking assistance.

Designed as a one-stop digital guide, the app ensures a smooth and organised travel experience during the nine-day festival starting June 27, 2025. With this tech initiative, ECoR aims to enhance convenience, safety, and efficiency for devotees traveling to witness the grand Jagannath Rath Yatra.

History of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra

Ancient References: The Rath Yatra has been described in holy Hindu texts such as the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and the Kapila Samhita. This speaks volumes about its existence in Hindu tradition for centuries.

Historical Records: It has been observed by European travellers since the 13th century. Richer descriptions were made in the 17th century. King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva’s construction of the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12th century CE established the institutionalisation and majesty of the festival. The Gajapati dynasty, being temple patrons, played a large role in making the festival prominent.

Significance of Jagannath Rath Yatra

The Rath Yatra is deeply religious, spiritual, cultural, and social in its import:

Accessibility of the Divine

Unlike in most temple ceremonies, where gods are locked up within the sanctum sanctorum, the Rath Yatra is special because the deities “venture out” into the streets to bless their followers. This signifies that God can be reached by allregardless of caste, creed, or social standing. It demystifies the divine by bringing it close to the common people.

Spiritual cleansing and blessings

It is strongly believed that taking part in or even observing the Rath Yatra, particularly pulling the chariots, washes away one’s sins, generates enormous spiritual merit, and results in salvation (moksha). The devotees regard it as very auspicious thing to do.

Symbol of Oneness and Equality

The process of millions of individualsirrespective of caste, creed, and social statusgathering to pull the chariots imbues within them strong feeling of community, oneness, and devotion. The tradition of Chera Pahara, in which the Gajapati King of Puri cleanses the chariots with a golden broom, reiterates the fact that one is equal before the Lord, regardless of their status in the world.

Cultural and Heritage Showcase

The festival is a colorful exhibition of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, and artBuilding the huge, intricately carved wooden chariots annually is a centuries-old skill inherited generation after generation by talented craftsmen. The music, dance, chanting, and street theatre build a charged atmosphere.

Reunion and Family Affection

The chariot ride to the Gundicha Temple is a reuniting with familyreflecting the union of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.

Soul’s Journey

The chariot ride is also metaphorically read spiritually as the journey of the soul to God or ultimate salvation (moksha), transcending worldly attachments and achieving enlightenment.

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Jagannath Rath Yatra FAQs

How many days Rath Yatra 2025?

The main Jagannath Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, is a nine-day event, starting with the main chariot procession and culminating with the return journey of the deities.

Is Jagannath Temple closed for 14 days?

The Jagannath Temple will be closed after the Snan Yatra and reopen on The Rath Yatra day. Usually, the temple remains closed for 15 days before Rath Yatra, but this year it will be for 14 days.

When is the Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated?

The main Rath Yatra festival takes place on the second day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashadha, which typically falls in June or July each year. The overall festivities begin earlier with Snana Purnima. For 2025, the main Rath Yatra is on Friday, June 27th.

Where is the most famous Jagannath Rath Yatra held?

The most famous and grand Jagannath Rath Yatra is held in Puri, Odisha, India, at the Shree Jagannath Temple.

What are the three chariots used in the Rath Yatra?

Nandighosa: Lord Jagannath's chariot (yellow and red, 16 wheels).
Taladhwaja: Lord Balabhadra's chariot (green and red, 14 wheels).
Darpadalana: Goddess Subhadra's chariot (black and red, 12 wheels).

Are the chariots built new every year?

Yes, as per ancient tradition, three new chariots are meticulously constructed from specific types of wood (like Phassi, Dhausa, and Neem) every year by skilled artisans (Biswakarmas). The construction process begins on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, months before the main festival.

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