The Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, is one of the biggest and most important Hindu festivals celebrated every year in Puri, Odisha. The grand event attracts lakhs of devotees from across India and many other countries. In 2026, the festival is being celebrated today (July 16).
Unlike the rest of the year, when devotees visit the Jagannath Temple for darshan, Rath Yatra is special because Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra, comes out of the temple to bless devotees. The three deities are placed on beautifully decorated wooden chariots, which are pulled through the streets of Puri by thousands of devotees.
One of the most unique traditions of the festival is that the three giant chariots are built from scratch every year. They are made using specially selected wood and traditional methods, making the annual construction an important ritual in itself.
According to Hindu belief, the Rath Yatra marks the journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, which is believed to be the home of their aunt. The journey symbolises love, compassion and the Lord's desire to meet and bless all devotees, including those who cannot enter the temple.
Preparations for the festival begin several months in advance. Apart from building the chariots, many religious rituals are performed before the procession starts. Pulling the sacred chariots is considered highly auspicious, as devotees believe it helps remove sins and brings peace, blessings and prosperity.
The main events of Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 include:
Rath Yatra on July 16
Hera Panchami on July 20
Bahuda Yatra (return journey) on July 24
Suna Besha on July 25
Adhara Pana on July 26
Niladri Bije on July 27
