Festival · Jagannath, with Balabhadra and Subhadra

Rath Yatra

The chariot festival of Puri, on the second day of the bright half of Ashadha. Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra ride out in three great wooden chariots, pulled by the crowd, to the Gundicha temple.

Rath Yatra 2027
Monday 5 July 2027
New Delhi

For New Delhi, Monday 5 July 2027

Shukla Dwitiya tithi

Begins
4:51 am
Ends
1:14 am, 6 July
Sunrise
5:28 am
Sunset
7:23 pm
Moonrise
6:36 am
Moonset
8:36 pm

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Full panchang for this day →

How it is kept

Customs vary by region and family

  • Join or watch the chariot procession
  • Help pull the ropes, held to bring great merit
  • Sing kirtans and share the temple’s prasad

What it remembers

Rath Yatra, the festival of chariots, falls on the second day of the bright half of Ashadha, in June or July. At Puri, Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe, comes out of his temple with his elder brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra, and the three ride in great wooden chariots, pulled by the crowd, to the Gundicha temple, where they stay for about a week before the journey home.

The images of wood

King Indradyumna, the story goes, longed to see the god Nila Madhava. A log washed up on the shore at Puri, and an old craftsman, held to be Vishwakarma, offered to carve it if no one opened his door until he was done. The queen grew anxious and the door was opened early: the craftsman was gone, and the images were left as they are worshipped still, with round eyes and no hands.

Three chariots

New chariots are built every year from wood of chosen trees: Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath, with sixteen wheels; Taladhwaja for Balabhadra, with fourteen; and Darpadalana for Subhadra, with twelve. Balabhadra’s chariot leads, Subhadra’s follows, and Jagannath’s comes last.

The king with the broom

Before the chariots move, the Gajapati king of Puri sweeps their decks with a golden broom and sprinkles them with sandal water, the rite called Chhera Pahanra. Before Lord Jagannath the king too is a servant.

The god among his people

Many who may not enter the temple see Lord Jagannath on this day, for he comes out to everyone. To touch the ropes of the chariot, or even to see it, is held to bring great merit, and the crowd pulls it through the Bada Danda, the grand road of Puri.

Keeping the day

Rath Yatra is a festival of the open street more than of the home. Families keep it in many ways; follow your own tradition where it differs.

  1. Bathe in the morning and pray to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, at home or at a temple.
  2. Watch or join a Rath Yatra procession near you, many held by Jagannath temples and ISKCON centres.
  3. If you can, take your turn on the ropes and help pull the chariot, chanting the god’s name.
  4. Sing kirtans as the chariot moves, and offer flowers, tulasi and sweets.
  5. Share prasad, and give food to others: in Puri the temple’s mahaprasad is shared by all, without distinction.
  6. At home, children often pull a small decorated chariot carrying images of the three deities.

What you need

  • Images or a picture of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra
  • Flowers and tulasi
  • Sweets or fruit to offer and share
  • A small decorated chariot for children, if you like

Across India

Odisha

At Puri the chariots are pulled to the Gundicha temple, about three kilometres away. Hera Panchami, when Goddess Lakshmi comes looking for Lord Jagannath, falls during the stay, and the deities return in the Bahuda Yatra.

Gujarat

Ahmedabad holds one of India’s largest Rath Yatras, from the Jagannath temple at Jamalpur through the old city.

West Bengal

The Rath Yatra of Mahesh, near Serampore, is among the oldest in Bengal, and towns and villages across the state pull chariots of their own.

Around the world

ISKCON has held Rath Yatras outside India since 1967, and chariots now roll through cities from London to New York and Sydney.

When it falls

Shukla Dwitiya of Ashadha. Kept on the day this tithi holds at sunrise.

These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.

Rath Yatra in the coming years

New Delhi, India time

  1. 2027Monday 5 July 2027
  2. 2028Saturday 24 June 2028

Questions

When is Rath Yatra in 2027?

Monday 5 July 2027, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.

When does Rath Yatra fall?

Shukla Dwitiya of Ashadha. Kept on the day this tithi holds at sunrise.

How is Rath Yatra kept?

Families join or watch the chariot procession, help pull the ropes, held to bring great merit and sing kirtans and share the temple’s prasad. Customs vary by region and family.

Who is honoured on Rath Yatra?

Jagannath, with Balabhadra and Subhadra. The chariot festival of Puri, on the second day of the bright half of Ashadha. Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra ride out in three great wooden chariots, pulled by the crowd, to the Gundicha temple.

Why does Lord Jagannath leave his temple?

By tradition he goes each year to the Gundicha temple, held to be the home of his aunt or of Queen Gundicha, who first saw the images, and comes out to give darshan to everyone on the way, including those who may not enter the temple.

When do the deities return?

After about a week at the Gundicha temple, on the tenth day of the bright half of Ashadha, in the Bahuda Yatra. They are then dressed in gold, Suna Besha, on their chariots before going back into the temple.

Can anyone pull the chariot?

Yes. The ropes are open to all who come, and pulling them, or even touching them, is held to bring great merit. Large crowds gather, so follow the guidance of the temple and the police.