Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: History, Schedule, Place, Etc

The 2025 Rath Yatra is set to take place on June 27, 2025, in Puri, Odisha. This highly anticipated religious event is celebrated with great pomp and zest in India each year.

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It is the oldest and largest chariot festival in India and is associated with Lord Jagannath, who is a form of Lord Vishnu. 

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History of Puri Ratha Yatra

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The Jagannatha Ratha Yatra honours three deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. The deities are carried from their temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri in a wooden chariot (ratha). 

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Thousands of devotees pull the chariots from the deities’ temples to the Gundicha Temple. The construction of these chariots starts on Akshaya Tritiya, which is an annual Jain and Hindu spring festival. 

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The chariots (ratha) are built from scratch using wood from special trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. During the procession, the devotees engage in a ritual called “chhera pehanra”, which involves sweeping the roads in front of the chariots as a mark of respect for the three deities. 

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Ratha Yatra 2025 Date & Location

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Jagannatha Rath Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots or the Car Festival, will commence on June 27, 2025, and conclude on July 5, 2025. The nine-day festival is expected to witness throngs of devotees visiting Puri, Odisha. 

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The festival takes place during the Hindu lunar month of Asadh, typically occurring in June or July in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is held on Dwitiya Tithi, the second day of the brilliant fortnight of the Sharad Paksha.

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The Hindu tradition further states that devotees who draw the chariots and touch the ropes are blessed and have their sins forgiven as Lord Jagannath makes his way back to Mathura, his birthplace.

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It is known as the celebration of oneness because it brings together individuals from all walks of life. The King of Puri himself performs the Chhera Panhara ceremony to show that all people are equal in God's eyes.

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It is the Nabakalebar Rath Yatra, during which all the Lords receive new avatars after nineteen years. On July 5, 2025, the return journey of the Lords is celebrated as the Bahuda yatra. 

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On the day of Ekadasi, the gods arrive at the Puri temple and are dressed in new clothing; this new appearance of the idols is called "Suna Vesa."

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