Rath Yatra News Updates

Before the commencement of the Rath Yatra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed 'mangla aarti' (auspicious ritual to pay obeisance to Lord) of the deities in the temple in the early hours.

President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra today.

Meanwhile, devotees have flock to Badadanda in large number to witness the annual sojourn of the Holy Trinity.

The three gigantic chariots of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are decked up and ready outside Srimandir for their annual sojourn to Gundicha temple on Friday (July 1).

By the grace of God, we do not have a severe COVID pandemic this year around. So, we are observing the festival this time with full public attendance, Puri King said.

The district administration has formed three teams for which 39 fire services personnel have been engaged to tackle probable drowning cases during Rath Yatra.  

An aura of devotion pervaded across the Bada Danda in Puri for the much-awaited divine journey of Lord Jagannath to Gundicha Temple. This year,

Devotees heaved a sigh of relief after having darshan of the deities in their youthful looks (Nabajoubana besha). 

Public will be barred from darshan for some secret rituals which will continue from 10.30 am to 2pm and again from 3pm to 6pm.

The Holy Trinity-Lord Jagannath Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra-is all set to reappear and give darshan in youthful appearance on the auspicious occasion of 'Nabajoubana Darshan' tomorrow. 

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has taken necessary steps to facilitate pilgrims with reserved class accommodation, for the trains leaving from its jurisdiction towards Puri and vice-versa, apart from the special trains from neighboring States.

Around 10 lakh people are expected to gather for the festival in the temple town from across the country, and some foreign nations, Director of Health Service Bijay Mohapatra said.

 “I would like to request devotees to follow the traffic rules while coming to the holy city. We have also designated adequate number of parking spaces for them,” DGP Sunil Bansal informed.  

The carpenters engaged in chariot construction do not have any formal training. They only have knowledge and techniques that have been trickled down from their forefathers, Mohanty pointed out.

‘Banakalagi' ritual is a secret ritual and the Dutta Mohapatra servitors perform it.