Jagannath Rath Yatra 2027जगन्नाथ रथ यात्रा

When is Jagannath Rath Yatra?

Observed on Shukla Dwitiya, Ashadh month. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Jagannath Rath Yatra means

The Rath Yatra of Puri is the festival in which Jagannath — Krishna as 'Lord of the Universe' — with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, leaves the temple on three enormous wooden chariots and is pulled by lakhs of devotees through the Bada Danda, the grand road, to the Gundicha temple about three kilometres away. It begins on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya.

On every other day of the year only those allowed into the temple can see the deities in the sanctum. On Rath Yatra the Lord comes out into the street for everyone — of every caste, creed and country — and it is believed that a glimpse of Jagannath on his chariot frees one from rebirth. Pulling the ropes is counted among the greatest acts of devotion.

The festival is also a picture of the inner journey. The Katha Upanishad compares the body to a chariot, the intellect to its driver and the mind to the reins; on Rath Yatra the Lord rides in the chariot, and devotees pray that he will ride in their hearts in the same way.

The story of Jagannath Rath Yatra

The temple's tradition tells that King Indradyumna of Malava learned that Vishnu was worshipped as Nila Madhava in the forests of Odisha. When the image vanished, the Lord told the king in a dream to find a sacred log (daru) floating in the sea and have it carved into his form. An aged carpenter — Vishwakarma, or Vishnu himself in disguise — agreed to carve it on condition that no one open the door until he had finished.

After many days the sounds of carving stopped, and the anxious queen Gundicha persuaded the king to open the door. The carpenter had vanished, leaving the three images with unfinished hands and feet. A divine voice told the king to install them as they were — which is why Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra have their distinctive round eyes and stump-like arms.

Each year the deities go to the Gundicha temple, which tradition calls the home of their aunt or the place where they first appeared, and stay about a week. On the way back (Bahuda Yatra) they stop at the Mausi Maa temple to eat poda pitha. The story of Lakshmi, left behind at the main temple, who comes angrily to Gundicha on Hera Panchami and later has to be won over with rasagola, is enacted every year.

Jagannath Rath Yatra puja vidhi, step by step

The cycle of Rath Yatra rituals at Puri, and how to keep the day at home. Exact times are fixed each year by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.

What you need

• An image of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra (or of Krishna), and a small decorated chariot if your family or temple pulls one
• Tulsi leaves, flowers and a garland, sandal paste
• A ghee diya and incense
• Naivedya: khichdi, kheer, poda pitha, khaja, chhena sweets or any sattvic food
• The Jagannath Ashtakam, Gita or Krishna kirtan for singing

When to do the puja

The Puri Rath Yatra in 2027 falls on Monday, 5 July (Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya). Snana Purnima is on 18 June, and the Bahuda (return) Yatra on 13 July. The temple announces the times of Pahandi and the chariot-pulling each year. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Snana Purnima (Jyeshtha Purnima). The deities are bathed with 108 pots of water on the Snana Mandap. They then 'fall ill' and are kept away from public view for about two weeks (Anavasara), receiving herbal medicines.
2. Netra Utsav. On the day before the Yatra the deities, freshly painted, give darshan again — the festival of the eyes.
3. Pahandi. On Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya the deities are carried to the chariots in a swaying procession to the sound of gongs and conches: first Balabhadra, then Subhadra with the Sudarshan chakra, and last Jagannath.
4. Chhera Pahanra. The Gajapati king of Puri sweeps the chariot platforms with a golden-handled broom — the king as the Lord's humblest servant.
5. The pulling. Devotees pull Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), Darpadalana (Subhadra) and Nandighosa (Jagannath) to the Gundicha temple. At home, pull a small chariot around the house or street with kirtan, or offer worship and sing 'Jai Jagannath'.
6. Hera Panchami, Bahuda and Suna Besha. On the fifth day Lakshmi visits Gundicha. On Ashadha Shukla Dashami the deities return (Bahuda), on Ekadashi they are dressed in gold on the chariots (Suna Besha), and soon after they re-enter the temple (Niladri Bije).

Offerings & food: Chenna poda, khaja, poda pitha, chhena jhili, pana (sweet drink); Mahaprasad from the temple

Mantras for Jagannath Rath Yatra

Jagannath Rath Yatra across India

Grandest at Puri (Odisha), also major celebrations at Ahmedabad (Gujarat), ISKCON temples worldwide, Mahesh, Serampore (West Bengal — one of the oldest, said to be over 600 years old)

Puri (Odisha)

The original Rath Yatra: three new chariots built each year from fixed specifications — Nandighosa with 16 wheels, Taladhwaja with 14 and Darpadalana with 12 — pulled along the Bada Danda by lakhs of devotees.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

The Rath Yatra from the Jagannath temple at Jamalpur, held since the nineteenth century, is one of the largest in India, with decorated elephants, akhadas and bhajan mandalis.

Mahesh, Serampore (West Bengal)

One of the oldest Rath Yatras in Bengal, said to date back more than six hundred years, with a large fair (Rather Mela).

ISKCON worldwide

Since the first Rath Yatra in San Francisco in 1967, ISKCON has taken the festival to cities from London to New York and Sydney.

Across Odisha

Towns and villages pull their own Jagannath chariots, and Puri's tradition shapes the whole state's festival calendar, from Snana Purnima to Niladri Bije.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Jagannath Rath Yatra

Jagannath TemplePuri, Odisha

Frequently asked questions