The Puri Rath Yatra, one of the most revered and ancient Hindu festivals, is set to commence on Friday, June 27, in the sacred coastal town of Puri, Odisha. The festival is renowned for its spectacular chariot procession, where the idols of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Devi Subhadra are ceremoniously taken from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, symbolising a divine journey.
Key dates and rituals of Puri Rath Yatra 2025
- Snana Purnima (Ceremonial Bathing Ritual): June 12
- Anavasara (Seclusion Period of the Deities): June 13–26
- Gundicha Marjana (Temple Cleansing Ritual): June 26
- Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival): June 27
- Hera Panchami (Visit of Goddess Lakshmi): July 1
- Bahuda Yatra (Return Journey of the Deities): July 4
- Suna Besha (Adorning the Deities with Gold Ornaments): July 5
- Niladri Bijay (Return to the Sanctum of Jagannath Temple): July 5
The Puri Rath Yatra is not only a visual spectacle but also a deeply symbolic event. One of the most notable rituals is Chhera Pahanra, where the King of Puri sweeps the chariots of the deities with a golden broom—signifying that all are equal before God, regardless of social or political status.
Thousands of devotees participate in pulling the massive, elaborately decorated wooden chariots through the streets of Puri. This act of devotion is believed to forge a spiritual bond with the divine and underscores the festival’s core values—unity, devotion, and spiritual growth.
Also Read: Sukhoi Jet tyres fitted on Jagannath Chariot after 20-year search
Security measures ahead of Rath Yatra 2025
With lakhs of devotees expected to gather in Puri, the Odisha government is on high alert to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration. On Sunday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the preparedness and directed officials to ensure that the Rath Yatra is "completely incident-free."
Sensitive locations such as the Grand Road, the main procession route, will be closely monitored using aerial surveillance, drones, CCTV cameras, and Coast Guard deployment. The CM emphasised that every possible measure is being taken, stating, “Our first and only aim is to ensure an incident-free Rath Yatra event. As I was informed by the officials, all the necessary measures needed for an incident-free event have been implemented.”
In addition to on-ground police forces, the government has deployed Coast Guard personnel and called in additional security forces. Cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and drone surveillance, will be used to monitor the crowd and activities. Helicopter support will be provided if needed. Fire safety arrangements and traffic control measures have also been strengthened to manage the large influx of pilgrims.
Special trains for pilgrims
To accommodate the surge of devotees traveling to Puri, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the operation of 365 special trains during the festival period. These will supplement regular train services and provide direct connectivity from multiple regions.
According to a statement from ECoR, special trains will operate from key locations within Odisha such as Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Bangiriposi, Junagarh Road, Badampahar, Boudh, Jagdalpur, Baleswar, Angul, Gunupur, and Rayagada. Additionally, special trains will run to and from Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Gondia (Chhattisgarh), and Santragachi (West Bengal) during the main days of the festival.
ECoR said, “This comprehensive rail connectivity will not only cater to the massive surge of pilgrims during the festival but also significantly ease travel for people in remote and interior districts.”
Also Read: Gujarat gears up for Jagannath Rath Yatra
Follow us
