Devotees Gather for Grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri

Elaborate preparations by various state government departments have ensured that the annual event begins smoothly and safely.

The Jagannath Rath Yatra—also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra—is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually in Odisha. It is observed on the Dwitiya Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the lunar month of Ashadha, a spiritually significant day marked by the growing brightness of the moon.

Millions of devotees have congregated near the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to witness Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings—Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra—begin their nine-day ceremonial journey to the Gundicha Temple, believed by some to be the birthplace of the divine quartet, including Sudarshan.

Renowned scholar of Jagannath culture, Suryanarayan Rath Sharma, told IANS, “The Rath Yatra is the most ancient chariot festival in the world. It is believed that having darshan of Lord Jagannath during this Yatra grants a devotee moksha.”

Amid chants of devotion and spiritual ecstasy, devotees will pull the grand wooden chariots—Nandighosh (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), and Darpadalan (Subhadra)—over a distance of approximately 3 kilometers to the Gundicha Temple.

Puri District Collector Sidharth Shankar Swain stated on Thursday, “We are fully prepared for the grand Rathayatra. All rituals and arrangements have been meticulously planned and will be carried out with equal dedication. I seek the blessings of Mahaprabhu and the cooperation of all devotees to ensure a smooth and sacred celebration.”

To ensure the safety and orderliness of the festival, the state government has implemented a five-tier security system throughout the city. Around 200 platoons of police, along with eight companies of Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and other central forces, have been deployed.

In addition, approximately 10,000 personnel from the Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Forces, and Home Guards are on duty in Puri and surrounding areas during the festival.

A notable enhancement this year is the deployment of an Integrated Command and Control System—a first for the Rath Yatra—designed to monitor crowd and traffic movement. The system includes over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras installed from Uttara Square to Puri Town, and along the route from Puri to Konark.

With spiritual devotion filling the air and stringent security arrangements in place, the Rath Yatra of 2025 has begun on a grand and sacred note.