Rath Yatra 2025: Chariots, Chaos, and Devotion Unleashed in Puri
Inside India’s Most Iconic Chariot Festival As It Rolls Across Faith, Time, and Continents

Puri, June 27: There’s something unmistakable about the air in Puri when Rath Yatra comes around. It’s not just the chants or the scent of camphor. It’s movement—millions of feet, hands, wheels, prayers—churning in synchrony toward something divine. And this year, as the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 kicks off, it’s happening on a grander scale than most remember.
By dawn, the coastal town had already transformed into a fortress of faith and security. Chariots stood poised. Streets were cleared. Devotees—barefoot, breath held—lined the Bada Danda, watching the horizon for the first tug of the ropes.
A Ritual Older Than Memory
At the heart of it all is a story most Indians know but few pause to think through: Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra leave their temple home once a year, make their way to the Gundicha Temple, and rest there before returning. It’s not just a symbolic trip—it’s the only time the deities leave the sanctum and step into the human world.
The dates aren’t random. Everything from the moon phase to the bathing rituals is meticulously timed. June 27 is the big day, but the rhythm started weeks ago with Snana Purnima, when the deities were publicly bathed and then hidden away during Anavasara—a time of divine rest, or as locals see it, recovery from the ‘fever’ brought on by too much public gaze.
And yet, none of it feels old or rigid. Watching the crowd, it’s clear: this festival may follow ancient rules, but it pulses with very present-day emotion.
A City Rewired, Momentarily
Puri’s used to crowds, but not like this. Over a million visitors are expected today alone. Authorities had little choice but to treat this like a state-level operation.
From early morning, a web of diversions, barricades, and checkpoints went live. Vehicles were banned along key stretches of Grand Road. Three-wheeler shuttles are ferrying people from far-off parking zones near Konark and Brahmagiri. If you’re arriving by train—good call. The East Coast Railway has laid on hundreds of specials.
As for surveillance, it’s 2025, so yes—AI is watching too. Facial recognition, drone-jammers, and bomb squads are all in play. NSG snipers are posted atop buildings, not because of any threat per se, but because a gathering this big can’t afford to be complacent. Seven rogue drones were already grounded this week.
Even the beach has a security plan. Lifeguards and coast guards are circling the edges. Ritual baths might be sacred, but the Bay of Bengal doesn’t care for sentiment.
Puri Isn’t Alone
While the spotlight remains here, Rath Yatra’s echo stretches far. Across the border in Dhaka, ISKCON kicked off a parallel nine-day celebration today. Processions, bhajans, and chariot pulling—all modelled on Puri—snaked through Swamibag and Shapla Chattar, turning a Muslim-majority capital into a burst of Vedic theatre, if only briefly.
Back in India, Ahmedabad rolled out its own massive celebration—its 148th edition, with nearly a million expected to join. And in Digha, West Bengal’s seaside resort, the newly built Jagannath Temple saw its first ever Rath Yatra today. A replica of Puri’s iconic structure, the temple reportedly cost over ₹100 crore and is quickly turning into a pilgrimage spot of its own.
This isn’t just Odisha’s festival anymore—it belongs to every place Jagannath’s story has touched.
When TV Becomes Temple
For those stuck far from the action, Doordarshan stepped in early. The live broadcast began around 8:30 AM and will continue deep into the evening, capturing every drumbeat, every chant. YouTube streams have picked up the slack where official cameras couldn’t reach, giving even those abroad a front-row seat.
Interestingly, even the rituals following today’s chariot pull—Hera Panchami (July 1), Bahuda Yatra (July 4), and Suna Besha (July 5)—are being prepped for live coverage. In a sense, faith now comes with a pause and rewind button.
A Word For Pilgrims
If you’re reading this on the move, a few things to keep in mind. Carry water—it’s humid, and shade is hard to find. Don’t rely on cell networks; they’re patchy near the temple zone. And if you’re here with elders, locate the first-aid tents. They’re well-marked, with volunteers from both the Red Cross and state health teams.
Also, a gentle reminder: photography is allowed, but this isn’t a concert. Let the priests and sevayats do their work—your Instagram can wait a moment.
Beyond The Festival
The Rath Yatra doesn’t end when the chariots stop. It continues with layered rituals and slow unwinding. The Hera Panchami, when Goddess Lakshmi is said to confront Jagannath for leaving her behind, is as much theatre as theology. Bahuda, the return journey, has its own air of quiet joy. And the final Suna Besha, where the deities are dressed in gold, draws nearly as many as the main event.
After that? Ashadhi Ekadashi begins. Fasting. Reflection. The chariots rest. But for those who were here, the sounds and sights don’t fade easily.
Rath Yatra 2025 isn’t just a celebration. It’s part spectacle, part spiritual checkpoint. And maybe, for one morning in June, it offers something rare: a moment where ancient time and modern chaos hold each other in quiet balance.
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Ravi Juneja is a student journalist currently pursuing his degree from Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication. With a passion for factual reporting and public interest stories, he covers a wide spectrum of news at Hindustan Herald, including politics, health, technology, entertainment, and global affairs. Ravi is committed to delivering balanced, research-backed journalism with a strong sense of responsibility and independence.