Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 begins with Snana Purnima today; Check full schedule, start and end dates
Snana Purnima 2025: Deities bathed with 108 pots of sacred water
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Nine-day festival schedule announced
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Full calender of events
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Jagannath Rath Yatra: Each deity has a unique chariot
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Festival attracts global attention
Lakhs expected to attend chariot procession
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The annual Snana Purnima festival is being observed today, June 11, 2025, in Puri, Odisha. The ceremonial bathing of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra — known as the Snana Yatra — is taking place at the Jagannath Temple. This ritual signals the formal start of the Jagannath Rath Yatra festivities.According to temple tradition, the three deities are bathed with 108 pots of holy water drawn from the golden well located within the temple complex. This is the only day in the year when devotees get to see the deities together in full public view on the Snana Mandap (bathing platform).Following the ceremonial bath, the deities are believed to fall ill and will remain away from public view for a period of about 15 days. This period, called Anasara, is considered a time of rest and recovery for the divine figures before they reappear for the Rath Yatra.The Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 will begin on June 27 and continue until July 5. The nine-day festival includes several key rituals, beginning with Snana Purnima and ending with the return of the deities to the main temple. This year, the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha will begin at 1:25 PM on June 26 and end at 11:19 AM on June 27. Based on this timing, the chariot festival — considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the world — will take place on June 27.The sequence of rituals during this year's Rath Yatra has been announced:Snana Purnima: June 12, 2025Anavasara (period of rest): June 13–26, 2025Gundicha Marjana (temple cleaning): June 26, 2025Rath Yatra: June 27, 2025Hera Panchami: July 1, 2025Bahuda Yatra (return chariot procession): July 4, 2025Suna Besha (golden attire of the deities): July 5, 2025Niladri Bijay (return to the main temple): July 5, 2025These events follow a strict religious calendar and are carried out with precise timing and rituals.During the Rath Yatra, the three deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra — are taken out of the temple and placed on large wooden chariots for a ceremonial procession through Puri. Each deity has a designated chariot: Lord Jagannath's chariot has 18 wheels, Lord Balabhadra's has 16 wheels, and Subhadra's chariot has 14 wheels.The Rath Yatra is not only a major event in Odisha but also draws international visitors. Known for its inclusiveness, the festival allows people from all walks of life to pull the chariots and seek blessings. The procession symbolises a rare public appearance of the deities and serves as an occasion for collective worship and celebration.Devotees from across the country and abroad are expected to gather in Puri to witness the Rath Yatra. During the festival, the deities are carried in elaborately decorated wooden chariots along the Grand Road to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be the home of their maternal aunt.This annual procession is an important cultural and spiritual event, drawing lakhs of pilgrims to the temple city every year.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Planning to attend Jagannath Rath Yatra this year? Here's how to plan a trip and all you need to know
The Jagannath Rath Yatra, a grand chariot festival in Puri, Odisha, involves the procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra on massive wooden chariots. Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to the Gundicha Temple, followed by a return journey. Celebrations extend to other cities like Ahmedabad, with rituals and preparations underway, marking a festival steeped in history and tradition. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Celebrations Across India A Festival with History The Three Grand Chariots Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Nandighosha for Jagannath (16 wheels) Taladhwaja for Balabhadra (14 wheels) Darpadalana for Subhadra (12 wheels) The Procession Tips for First-Time Visitors Arrive early – Come 2–3 days before the event to get good accommodation. Dress wisely – Wear light, modest clothes and stay hydrated in the summer heat (25–35 °C). Where to watch – You can either book viewing gallery tickets for a calmer view or join the lively crowd along the chariot path. Follow local customs – Respect religious practices and follow ritual timings. Use Technology to Help The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, is the biggest chariot festival in the world. It takes place every year in June or July. During the festival, three idols—Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra—are taken out of the Jagannath Temple and placed on huge wooden chariots. These chariots are pulled by thousands of people through the streets of Puri to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km a week, the return journey, called Bahuda Yatra, brings the deities back to the main excitement isn't just in Puri. Other cities also celebrate. In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the state's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that lakhs of devotees take part in the Rath Yatra there too. The important Jal Yatra ritual (fetching holy water from the Sabarmati River) has already started. He also said all arrangements are being made for the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, which will be held on June in Odisha, important rituals like Pahandi and Snana Utsav (ritual bathing) have already taken Rath Yatra dates back to the 12th–16th centuries. Some believe it marks Lord Krishna's return to his birthplace, while others say it was started by King Indradyumna. The festival follows age-old traditions. First, the idols are bathed with 108 pots of water on Snana Purnima. Then, they rest in isolation (called Anavasara) as they are said to fall 'ill,' before coming out for the big deity has a large wooden chariot:The chariots are made fresh each year from special wood and are decorated with colorful cloth. Over 1,200 meters of cloth is used, and the chariots are made using more than 600–800 wooden parts.A special moment in the festival is the Chera Pahara ritual , where the Gajapati King sweeps the area around the chariots with a golden broom, showing that everyone is equal before the chariots move through the streets, people shout 'Jai Jagannath' and pull the ropes. It's believed that touching the ropes brings blessings and washes away sins. The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for nine days. On the return trip, they stop at the Mausi Maa Temple to enjoy their favorite sweet—Poda Pitha, a traditional pancake. The festival ends with Niladri Bijaya, when the idols return to the main Odisha government has launched the Shree Jagannatha Dham app. It gives live updates, info on darshan queues, navigation, Mahaprasad availability, and a grievance portal. It's very helpful during the Rath Yatra.[With TOI inputs]
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
Amarnath Yatra: Around 125 langars to be set up for pilgrims
Jammu, June 12 (UNI) As preparations are in full swing for an upcoming Shri Amarnath Yatra starting from July 3, this year around 125 langars (community kitchen) will be set up from Lakhanpur (gateway to J&K) to the cave shrine situated in the South Kashmir Himalayas. Official sources said that nearly 125 langars will be set up from Lakhanpur to the cave shrine, including on the twin Pahalgam and Baltal routes. They said that the trucks carrying langar material and infrastructural equipment to install sheds will start reaching Jammu and Kashmir from June 15. "The process of installing langars will be completed by the end of this month," they said. This year, the 38-day-long yatra starting from July 3 will conclude on August 9, on the day of Raksha Bandhan. The first batch will leave from Jammu on July 2. Officials said that apart from the Yatra routes, more than 50 langars will be installed from Lakhanpur to Srinagar and Pahalgam and Baltal after being permitted by the Amarnath Shrine Board to the langar organisations. They stated that langar organisations from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states will be setting up community kitchens en route to the Cave Shrine. They said that out of the total, 25 langars will be organised in Baltal and Domel, 13 langars at the holy cave, 8 at Sheshnag, 5 at Pissutop, 12 at Panchtarni, 7 at Chandanwari, 9 at Nunwan and 5 at Zojibal. Five langars will also be set up at the Jammu base camp Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar and about 50 on Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar national highways. Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has also finalised the food menu for the langar organisations and asked them to avoid oily items. The Shrine Board has also encouraged the pilgrims to eat nutritious and healthy food. The holy cave of Shri Amarnath is located in Pahalgam of Anantnag district and is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. It is located at an altitude of about 13,600 feet above sea level. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday also inspected the maintenance, upgradation and widening of the Yatra track en route and took a first-hand appraisal of the measures taken by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and Border Road Organisation (BRO) to ensure the safe and hassle-free pilgrimage of the devotees. Sinha also performed the Pratham Puja at the Holy Cave, marking the ceremonial beginning of the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra. The Lieutenant Governor urged all the devotees of Baba Barfani to visit in large numbers for the Holy Yatra and prayed for the progress of J&K and the nation. UNI VBH ARN
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