Puri: Braving relentless monsoon showers, lakhs of devotees stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the historic Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Odisha’s Puri and pulled the chariots of three Hindu deities in the world-famous annual Rath Yatra on Thursday.
As estimated one million people attended the festival, most of them pulling the colourful wooden chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the sibling deities worshipped at the grand 12th-century seaside temple called Srimandir.
Held annually on the second day of the bright fortnight of the Odia month of Ashadha, the Rath Yatra is the only occasion when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra leave the sanctum of Srimandir and embark on their sacred journey to Gundicha Temple, nearly three kilometres away. For countless devotees unable to enter the temple throughout the year, it is a rare opportunity to receive the Lord’s darshan.
Odisha government put in place proactive measures to ensure safety of devotees attending the event. Despite the government’s efforts to avert possibilities of accidents like in recent years, at least one devotee was killed during Thursday’s pulling of chariots. The death was due to suffocation, said officials after preliminary reports. At least a dozen other devotees were reportedly injured.
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In 2025, at least three people, including two women, were killed in a stampede near Gundicha Temple and 50 others injured during the festival, making it the most serious among Rath Yatra incidents at Puri. In 2024, at least two people died and dozens injured in separate mishaps during the pulling of the three chariots.
“Looking at the massive gathering of devotees during the Rath Yatra in Puri every year, we had done elaborate and foolproof security arrangements this year. With active help from NSG, NDRF, RAF and CRPF, the town of Puri was turned into a safe zone from the seacoast to far into the land,” said Soumendra K. Priyadarshi, an ADGP of Odisha Police in charge of security during this year’s Rath Yatra. More than 13,500 police personnel were deployed under 23 IPS officers, he added.
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The day began with the deeply symbolic Pahandi procession, one of the festival’s most awaited rituals. Amid the rhythmic beating of gongs, cymbals and conches, Chakraraj Sudarshan was the first to emerge from the sanctum and was ceremonially placed on Darpadalana, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra.
The idol of Goddess Subhadra was then carried in the unique Sunya Pahandi, a procession in which the deity is borne facing the open sky. This was followed by Lord Balabhadra’s ceremonial procession before the arrival of Lord Jagannath, the most anticipated moment of the day. As the Lord emerged from the temple amidst chants, music and traditional dances, an emotional wave swept across the Grand Road. Devotees folded their hands, many with tears in their eyes, while thunderous chants of “Jai Jagannath” echoed through the rain-soaked streets.
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Before the chariots could begin their journey, the centuries-old Chhera Pahanra ritual was performed by Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, who ceremonially swept the chariots with a golden broom, reaffirming the timeless belief that all are equal before the Lord. The ritual was followed by the visit of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, after which devotees began pulling the massive wooden chariots along the Grand Road.
The three towering chariots, meticulously handcrafted anew every year from sacred neem wood by hereditary artisans, remain among the festival’s greatest attractions. Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, stands approximately 45 feet tall and rolls on 16 wheels. Taladhwaja, carrying Lord Balabhadra, has 14 wheels, while Darpadalana, bearing Goddess Subhadra, moves on 12 wheels. Built strictly according to centuries-old scriptures and traditional measurements, the chariots symbolize continuity of an unbroken cultural heritage.
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Rath Yatra marks the culmination of a sequence of sacred observances that began with Snana Purnima, during which the deities were ceremonially bathed with 108 pots of sanctified water. This was followed by Anavasara, the fortnight during which the deities remain away from public view, believed to be recuperating after the ceremonial bath. The Pahandi procession and Rath Yatra signal their return to devotees in one of Hinduism’s most spectacular public celebrations.
According to tradition, Lord Jagannath’s annual journey to Gundicha Temple commemorates His visit to the home of His aunt, known affectionately as Mausi Maa. After spending nine days there, the sibling deities will return to the Jagannath Temple during the Bahuda Yatra, followed by Suna Besha, when they are adorned with magnificent gold ornaments, drawing another sea of devotees.
Beyond its religious significance, the Rath Yatra embodies ideals of equality, humility and universal compassion. The act of pulling the sacred ropes is regarded as an expression of devotion rather than privilege, reinforcing the belief that divine grace transcends caste, wealth and social standing. It is this profound message—that the Lord Himself comes out to meet His devotees—that has sustained the festival for centuries.
Recognised as one of the largest and oldest continuously celebrated religious gatherings in the world, the Jagannath Rath Yatra transforms Puri—one of Hinduism’s four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites—into a vibrant centre of spirituality, culture and tradition. As rain continued to drench the holy city on Thursday, neither the weather nor the crowds diminished the fervour, with millions witnessing yet another timeless chapter in Odisha’s most revered spiritual tradition.