Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 Grand Celebrations Begin in Puri 

Puri Rath Yatra 2025 : The Jagannath Rath Yatra, or the Festival of Chariots, in Puri, Odisha, will start on Friday, June 27, 2025. The nine-day festival is the procession of Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. The Bahuda Yatra, i.e., the return journey, is observed on the ninth day, July 5, 2025.

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Rath Yatra 2025

Date and Timing of Rath Yatra 2025

• Rath Yatra Begins (chariot festival) : Friday, June 27, 2025
  
• Dwitiya Tithi Starts: June 26, 2025 at 01:25 PM
  
• Dwitiya Tithi Ends: June 27, 2025 at 11:19 AM
  
• Hera Panchami: July 1, 2025
  
• Bahuda Yatra (Return Journey): Friday, July 5, 2025
  
• Suna Besha (Golden Attire): July 6, 2025 (Adorning Lord Jagannath with golden jewels)
  
• Niladri Bijay : July 8, 2025 (Last and most significant ritual of the festival).

Importance Of Rath Yatra

1. Pahandi Bije (Transfer of Deities to Chariots)
   📜 History:
   This centuries-old ceremony is the ritual of the transfer of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the sanctum of their temple to the chariots. It is thought that the deities themselves desire to go to their aunt’s house (Gundicha Temple).

Significance:

Lovers of God see the moment of the divine as the idols are brought in a ceremonial procession.

2. Chhera Pahanra (Holy Sweeping by the Gajapati King)
   📜 History:
   This practice is done by the King of Puri (Gajapati Maharaja) and is a tradition that indicates humility—even a king is a servant of the Lord.

Importance:

• Indicates that nobody is higher than God—royalty sweeps the chariot too.
• Comes with blessings and cleanses the path for chariots.

3. Rath Tana (Pulling the Chariots)
   📜History:
   The giant chariots (Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, Darpadalana) have been constructed in the same manner for centuries with sacred wood.

Importance:

• Pulling the ropes is highly auspicious—grants moksha (liberation).
• Millions join in, signifying unity in devotion.

4. Gundicha Yatra (Stay at Aunt’s Home)
   📜 History:
   Lord Jagannath visits the Gundicha Temple (his aunt’s home) for 7 days, repeating an ancient legend.

Importance:

• Symbolizes family ties and divine play (Leela).
• Devotees are of the belief that the trip to Gundicha Temple during this period is blessful.

5. Bahuda Yatra (Return Journey)
   📜History:
   One week later, the deities come back to the main temple, ending their “vacation.”

Importance:

• The return is welcomed with joy as it reflects the cycle of life and return to their divine home.

6. Suna Besha (Golden Attire)
   📜 History:
   On the last day, the deities are dressed in golden attire, a tradition dating back centuries.

Importance

• Symbolizes godly prosperity and riches.
• Faithful ones catch a glimpse of the Lords in resplendent gold.

What is Rath Yatra ?

Rath Yatra is a ritual procession of the temple deities to the Gundicha Temple, said to be their aunt’s place. The deities ride in three enormous, intricately carved, wooden chariots called raths, which are pulled by thousands of believers. This pulling of the chariots is extremely godly and is said to yield good effects. The scriptures like the Skanda Purana also declare this journey to be the finest of the twelve yearly pilgrimages of Lord Jagannath. According to legend, a person who manages to see the deities on the chariots during this pilgrimage will have his/her sins washed away and will be blessed.