Rath Yatra 2025: Preparation for the chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha in full swing
Rath Yatra 2025: Preparation for the chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha in full swing
7 Photos . Updated: 24 Jun 2025, 01:37 PM IST
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Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, set to begin on June 27.
1/7Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra. Workers are busy getting everything ready ahead of the auspicious procession set to begin on June 27. (HT )
2/7Preparations for the Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra are in progress in Puri. As per the Hindu calendar, the grand annual event takes place on the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashada. (Prahalad Mahato)
3/7Artisans are seen building the chariots for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in preparation for the annual Rath Yatra festival, set to take place on June 27 in Puri, Odisha. (PTI)
4/7An artisan is seen carving wooden miniature chariots in preparation for the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Kolkata. (saikat paul)
5/7Artisans are seen colouring structures of the grand chariots for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival. (PTI)
6/7Devotees gather for the Mameru Darshan of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra, who are adorned in new clothes and jewellery gifted by their maternal uncle, as part of the preparations for the 148th annual Rath Yatra procession in Ahmedabad. (PTI)
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Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Chariots roll through Vizag as devotees join Rath Yatra procession
Visakhapatnam: Thousands of devotees gathered at Lord Sri Jagannath Swamy temples in Vizag city and surrounding districts including Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalle, ASR, and Manyam in north Andhra Pradesh to celebrate Rath Yatra with religious fervor on Friday. The sound of conch shells resonated throughout Vizag city as the chariots carried the divine siblings—Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—to their aunt's house. The chariot festival was organised by the century-old Sri Jagannath Swamy Temple at Old Town in Vizag city, Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj—a premier socio-cultural organization of Oriyas in Vizag—along with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Vizag, and Lord Jagannath temples at several other locations including RINL-Ukkunagaram Township. Coinciding with the world-famous Rath Yatra at Sri Jagannath Dham Puri, Utkal Sanskrurika Samaj celebrated Rath Yatra in a grand manner in Vizag city. The deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—were taken out in a colorfully decorated chariot from the temple at Daspalla Hills near All India Radio to the Sri Gundicha temple at Lawsons Bay Colony, amidst the chanting of Haribol and Sankirtan. The deities were carried to the chariot from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in a ritual called Pahandi Bije. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This was followed by the ceremonial sweeping of the platform by the designated Gajapati, Sri J.K. Nayak, president of the Samaj and vice president of OSL Group of Companies. Devotees then pulled the chariot through VUDA Park, reaching the Gundicha temple at Lawsons Bay Colony, where the deities will reside until July 5, before returning on the day known as Bahuda Yatra. The weather was pleasant on Friday as thousands participated in pulling the chariot at Sri Jagannath Swamy Temple at Old Town. The authorities of the over 185-year-old temple said the deities were carried in a unique chariot standing 20 feet high. The procession commenced from Town Kotha Road and concluded at Turner's Choultry. Devotees felt that Odisha's rich culture was beautifully showcased in the Vizag car festival on Friday.
India Gazette
38 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Gujarat CM flags off rath yatra, extends best wishes to people
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 27 (ANI): On the occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel offered prayers to Lord Jagannathji and, along with the saints and dignitaries present, ceremoniously placed the idols of Lord Jagannathji, Subhadraji, and Balramji in the chariot. Following the rituals, the Chief Minister, with other dignitaries and seers, ceremonially commenced the Rath Yatra. The CM extended his warm wishes to all on the occasion of Rath Yatra, Ashadhi Bij, and the Kutchhi New Year, a release said. As the chariots began their journey, devotees chanted 'Jai Ranchhod, Makhan Chor,'. Speaking on the occasion, Swami Balkrishnadasji noted that while Rath Yatras are held across India, the Rath Yatra of Ahmedabad holds special prominence. He also shared that the SGVP Gurukul Rath Yatra brings the blessings of Lord Jagannath to the people of Memnagar and nearby areas. He also conveyed that it is a matter of joy that the CM ceremonially commenced this year's Yatra. It is noteworthy that the 18th SGVP Rath Yatra was organised to mark the 124th birth anniversary of Shastriji Maharaj Dharmjivandasji Swami and the Golden Jubilee of Swaminarayan Gurukul, Memnagar. Decorated thematic chariots created a devotional atmosphere as the procession moved through 7 km of surrounding areas, returning to SGVP Gurukul in the evening. Deputy Mayor Jatin Patel, AMC Standing Committee Chairman Shri Devang Dani, City BJP President Prerak Shah, AMTS Chairman Dharmshi Desai, and Sadguru Purani Balkrishnadasji Swami, along with numerous saints, devotees, and citizens, participated in the Rath Yatra organised by SGVP in Ahmedabad. Earlier, on the second day of the Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav and Shala Praveshotsav 2025, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Beej, Chief Minister Patel visited the Primary School in Pundrasan village, Gandhinagar district. He welcomed 197 children into the school by gifting them educational kits. The Chief Minister also interacted affectionately with the young children, encouraging them to pursue learning with enthusiasm, said the highlighted that to raise awareness about the importance and necessity of education and to build an educated future generation in Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi launched the statewide Shala Praveshotsav initiative in 2003. As a result of this sustained effort, parents and communities today have come to understand and value the role of education deeply. The Chief Minister stated that the Gujarat Government has launched several education-focused schemes to ensure no child is deprived of schooling due to financial challenges. He urged parents to utilise these schemes and take responsibility for their children's education. He noted that government schools are now equipped with modern facilities, such as smart classrooms, and that improved teaching methods have led many students to shift from private to government schools. The Chief Minister also highlighted that communities are actively working to promote education, with the state government extending full support to such efforts. (ANI)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Sea of devotees at Rath Yatra celebrations
Ranchi: The historic Yatra celebrations at the Jagannath Temple in Dhurwa here commenced early on Friday morning with sacred rituals and a sea of devotees thronging the temple premises. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chants and sounds of conch shells rent the air as priests perform the "mangal aarti" at 4 am, marking the beginning of the 334th annual dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. By 5 am, the idols of the deities were open for darshan. As per schedule, darshan was halted at 2 pm, followed by the ceremonial placement of the deities on their respective chariots. Key rituals included offering prayers to the Sudarshan Chakra and the deities before the chariots were readied for the grand procession. Several pilgrims, devotees and vendors from Bengal, Odisha and across Jharkhand arrived at the temple, transforming the area and its surroundings into a vibrant fairground. "I've come from Medinipur with wooden toys. This is our busiest time of the year," said Sukumar Das, a vendor. Rows of stalls offered a typical rural mela charm — toys, bangles, sweet shops stalls, street food vendors selling chana-murhi, jalebi, litti-chokha. Giant wheels and games for children also dotted the area. The local administration has arranged drinking water points, medical kiosks and temporary rest shelters for pilgrims who will continue to visit the temple till July 7 though Ghurti Rath Yatra is on July 6. This year, over a thousand makeshift stalls have been set up and managed mostly by visiting traders and artisans. Tribal jewellery, cotton garments, clay idols, spiritual items, herbal remedies and even handmade household goods were being sold in these stalls. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We come here every year and stay for 10 days. This mela is our livelihood," said Meena Barla, a handicraft vendor from Simdega. Nirmala Devi, a devotee from Ranchi said, "I come to the temple every year with my family. The energy here is divine. Watching the Lord being taken on the rath fills me with emotion." Between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm, the devotees performed 'bhoj' and offered delicacies to Lord Jagannath's chariot, followed by the symbolic act of devotees sweeping the path. The chariot procession began after 5 pm under the supervision of the Ranchi administration. As per tradition, women were allowed to offer darshan on the rath between 6:00 pm and 6:45 pm before the chariot moved towards the Masi Badi temple. The evening concluded with the 108-lamp 'mangal aarti' at 8 pm. The procession will continue till July 7, culminating in the return of the deities with the 'Bahuda Yatra'.
