Puri’s Grand Chariot Festival: Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is more than just a festival; it's a profound expression of faith, community, and the enduring spiritual connection between the divine and humanity.
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Devotion, Chariots, Unity, Tradition, Celebration Across India
Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival is among the most colorful and important Hindu festivals that are observed with matchless devotion and magnificence particularly at Puri in Odisha. In 2025, this nine-day spectacular is due to start on Friday, June 27, and finish on Saturday, July 5. It is a festival of faith and every year millions of pilgrims and tourists, flock in from all over the world, to see the divine procession of Lord Jagannath with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and his sister Goddess Subhadra.
Rath Yatra is full of ancient custom and mythological value. It celebrates the yearly pilgrIMAGE of the gods of the main Jagannath Temple in Puri to the Gundicha Temple which is regarded as the home of their aunt, or, in other cases, their birthplace (Mathura). This allegorical Parikrama means that the divine cannot be shut in a temple but he goes out to meet and bless his devotees without regard to their social status and origin. It represents ideas of egalitarianism, inclusiveness and spiritual freedom.
The planning of the Rath Yatra starts several months before. The main unique aspect of the festival is the building three huge, beautifully decorated wooden chariots to each god. These chariots are constructed every year with special kinds of woods and under the supervision of expert artisans as per the instructions of ancient times. The chariot of Lord Jagannath, Nandighosa, is biggest in size, Taladhwaja of Balabhadra and Darpadalana of Subhadra come later.
The celebrations begin formally with Snana Purnima which will be celebrated on June 12, 2025. During this day, the deities are ceremonially bathed using 108 pots of holy water contained in a golden well in the temple premises. Following this ceremonial bath, the gods are said to become “ill” and go into seclusion known as Anavasara (between June 13 and June 26) during which they are not publicly visible.
On the main Rath Yatra day, June 27, the Pahandi Bije ceremony occurs, which is the formal procession of the deities. As shouting scholars shout “Jai Jagannath!”, crowds chant in rhythm, and musical instruments fill the air. The idols are carried in a smooth fluid motion from the temple sanctum to their waiting chariots on the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue) as they are brought to their waiting chariots on the Grand Avenue.
One of the most unique and widely known rituals is the Chhera Pahanra. On Rath Yatra day, the Gajapati king of Puri performs the act of sweeping the chariots located in front of the temple with a golden broom. The point of the ritual follows humility and holds the belief that everyone is equal in front of Lord Jagannath, a point strongly represented by the king performing this act since he is the first servitor of Lord Jagannath.
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On the fifth day of their stay at Gundicha Temple, Hera Panchami (July 1), Lord Jagannath’s consort, Goddess Lakshmi, journeys to Gundicha Temple to show her dismay for being left behind.
The deities return (Bahuda Yatra) on July 4 to be pulled back to the main Jagannath Temple. On the way home, they stop at Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt’s Temple) to partake in traditional Odiya pancake, Poda Pitha.
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