Jagannath Rath Yatra
The chariot festival of Puri
Significance
Dates to the 12th century. The only time non-Hindus can see the deities. The chariots are rebuilt from scratch every year using specific trees and measurements.
Three massive wooden chariots, each 45 feet tall, are pulled by thousands of devotees through the streets of Puri. The Lord Jagannath leaves the temple once a year — and millions gather to pull the ropes.
First-time visitor
Arrive 2 days early, attend the Netrotsav viewing, then watch Rath Yatra from a pre-booked rooftop.
What to see
- Chariot construction in the weeks before
- Snana Yatra (ceremonial bath) — 15 days prior
- Pahandi procession of the deities
- Chhera Pahanra — sweeping of the chariots by the Gajapati king
Festival foods
Best for
Travel tips
- 1The crowd is massive — pick a rooftop vantage
- 2Monsoon is active — carry waterproof gear
- 3Hotels on Grand Road sell out a year in advance
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Jagannath Temple, Puri
Odisha
A 12th-century Vaishnavite temple on the Odisha coast whose 65-metre shikhara dominates the Puri skyline — one of the four Char Dhams and the setting for the annual Rath Yatra, when the deities ride 16-wheeled chariots pulled by 4,000 devotees through a two-km avenue of a million pilgrims.
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Questions & Answers
About Jagannath Rath Yatra
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 is scheduled for 16 Jul 2026. That's 83 days from today.
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