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Festival
Rath Yatra
The Chariot Festival That Moves A Nation
Every year, the streets of Puri come alive as Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra embark on their journey.
In Short
- Celebrated annually in Puri, Odisha.
- Three hand-built wooden chariots carry the deities.
- Chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees.
- New chariots are built fresh every single year.
Highlights
Millions
Of Devotees
3
Sacred Chariots
9 Days
Of Celebration
Centuries
Of Tradition
A festival that unites a state
Once a year, the Grand Road of Puri fills with colour, chant and the creak of giant wooden wheels as Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra leave the temple to visit their aunt’s house at the Gundicha Temple.
The chariots – Nandighosa, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana – are rebuilt from scratch each year by generations of craftsmen, using techniques passed down for centuries.
Rath Yatra begins with devotion and ends with unity.
— Traditional saying from Puri, OdishaSome journeys are made on foot.
Others are pulled by a million hands.
Did You Know?
The three Rath Yatra chariots are rebuilt from scratch every single year, using nothing but wood, hand tools and techniques recorded nowhere but in the memory of the carpenters who build them.
-
12th Century
The Jagannath Temple is completed in Puri.
-
15th Century
Rath Yatra grows into a major public festival.
-
1800s
Accounts of the festival spread across the world.
-
Today
Millions gather in Puri every year to pull the chariots.
Millions
Of devotees
3
Sacred chariots
9 Days
Of celebration
Puri
Odisha
Frequently Asked Questions
The festival is centred on the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, with the chariots processing down the Grand Road (Bada Danda).
Yes. All three chariots are constructed fresh each year by traditional carpenters, using no metal nails or modern machinery.
Nandighosa, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana carry Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra respectively on their annual journey.
References
- Temple Architecture of Odisha – Anil Dhir
- Odisha Tourism – Department of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha
- Field Visit, Puri – June 2024
WEAVIRA
Editorial