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Indian festivals

Ratha Yatra: Puri’s Chariot Festival, Dates and Three Rathas

Puri’s Ratha Yatra carries Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra to Gundicha Temple on three newly built chariots. Its lunar-calendar date changes each year.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
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Ratha Yatra—also written Rath Yatra or Ratha Jatra—is Puri’s annual procession in Odisha in which Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra are carried from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple on three decorated chariots. Devotees pull the chariots along the Bada Danda, or Grand Avenue. The festival follows a lunar date, so its Gregorian date changes each year.

What happens during Puri’s Ratha Yatra?

The outward procession takes the three deities from the Jagannath Temple, also called Srimandira, to Gundicha Temple. The public journey gives devotees a chance to see the deities outside the temple precincts. According to the government-hosted festival overview, the deities remain at Gundicha for seven days before returning to Srimandira.

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The Ministry of Tourism describes the observance as a nine-day festival overall. The chariot journey is therefore the central public event within a wider sequence of rituals, not the entirety of the festival.

When is Ratha Yatra in Puri?

Puri’s Ratha Yatra begins on Asadha Shukla Dwitiya, the second day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashadha. Because the date is set by the lunar calendar, its Gregorian date varies; the government-hosted festival account says it usually falls in late June, and in some years in July. The Ministry of Tourism lists 16 July 2026 for Puri, which is that year’s date rather than a fixed annual date. Ministry of Tourism: Rath Yatra; Government-hosted festival account: The Festival and The Journey

What are the three chariots?

Each deity has a distinct chariot. The government-hosted festival page says the chariots are newly built each year from specified woods, including phassi and dhausa, by specialist carpenters with hereditary rights. It describes the timber as traditionally coming from the former princely state of Dasapalla and being transported to Puri. The measurements and colors below are those given on that page; it does not state a publication year.

Chariot Deity Height and wheels Canopy colors
Nandighosa Jagannatha 45 feet; 16 wheels Red and yellow
Taladhwaja Balabhadra 44 feet; 14 wheels Red and blue
Darpadalana Subhadra 43 feet; 12 wheels Red and black

Source for the chariot names, dimensions, wheels, and colors: Government-hosted festival account: The Chariots.

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How does the procession unfold?

The named observances include Pahandi, Chhera Pahanra, Hera Panchami, Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha. The government-hosted account of the pulling order says Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja moves first, followed by Subhadra’s Darpadalana and then Jagannatha’s Nandighosa. Bahuda Yatra is the return journey to Srimandira; the deities’ stay at Gundicha falls between the outward and return processions.

The Ministry of Tourism lists these observances as part of the festival, while the government-hosted account describes the chariot-pulling sequence. Ritual details can vary in how they are presented; these descriptions summarize those sources rather than serving as a year-specific operational schedule. Ministry of Tourism: Rath Yatra; Government-hosted festival account: The Pulling of Chariots

Why is the chariot journey important to devotees?

The festival overview presents the procession as sacred and says that devotees consider seeing Jagannatha on the chariot auspicious. The public route also makes the deities visible beyond the temple precincts. These are religious meanings and beliefs attributed to devotees and the festival account, rather than claims of independently measurable effects. Government-hosted festival account: Introduction

Is every Ratha Yatra the same?

No. Ratha Yatra, Rath Yatra and Ratha Jatra are spellings used for chariot processions in different places, but the details here concern Puri in Odisha. The route, calendar date, sponsoring temple or community, rituals and chariot designs should be checked for each local observance; Puri’s customs should not be assumed to apply everywhere. The available official material does not establish a comparative ranking of regional Ratha Yatras.

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