From Ganga Kings to global glory, story of the first Rath Yatra in Puri

As millions prepare for this year’s monumental Rath Yatra on July 27, renewed interest has emerged in the enduring legacy of Puri’s legendary chariot festival. Revered as the world’s most ancient and grandest procession of its kind, the origins of Rath Yatra can be traced back nearly nine centuries, woven deeply into Odia identity and Hindu tradition.

According to historians, the Rath Yatra in Puri started in the early 13th century under the patronage of the Ganga dynasty, coinciding with the formal enshrinement of the Holy Trinity— Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—within the newly completed Jagannath Temple around 1150 AD. 

Epigraphic Evidence

Epigraphic evidence from the Madras Museum’s royal copper plates suggests that King Anangabhima Deva III explicitly adopted the role of Jagannath’s humble servant, thus institutionalising the Chhera Pahanra ritual, an act of sweeping that sees even the monarch in servitude before God.

Mention In Hindu Scriptures

Mentions of Rath Yatra appear in revered Hindu scriptures—the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samhita—affirming its ancient spiritual significance.

Notably, Western travelers like the Franciscan friar Odoric of Pordenone described the spectacle in 1321 AD, observing how “the King, the Queen and all the people drew the idols from the sanctum of the temple with song and music,” cementing the festival’s fame across continents. 

Equality And Communal Harmony

The core symbolism of Rath Yatra transcends religious ritual to embody universal values. It has traditionally signified equality and communal harmony, as the open procession allows people of all castes, creeds, and social standings to witness the deity—an ethos that remains central today. The festival’s premise—that the Lord descends to meet his devotees on the street—resonates with the democratic spirit at the very heart of Jagannath worship.

As Puri brims with anticipation for the chariots’ majestic journey to the Gundicha Temple, the origins of Rath Yatra stand as a powerful reminder: this is not merely a celebration of faith, but an enduring legacy of inclusivity, devotion, and King's humility before divine will—a tradition nearly 900 years in the making.