The grand Jagannath Rath Yatra begins on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the holy city of Puri, Odisha. This centuries-old chariot festival celebrates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.The festival usually falls between June and July. Millions of devotees from all over India congregate in the pilgrim city of Puri, Odisha, to participate in the chariot journey of Lord Jagannath. Rath Yatra is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu religion and is believed to be in practice since time immemorial. The day starts with the Mangalaparna ritual, followed by the journey of massive wooden chariots for approx. three kilometers to reach Shree Gundicha Temple. The Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the important festivals of Hinduism. Every year, a majestic procession carrying the statues of Lord Krishna, Balaram, and Subhadra is pulled by the devotees to reach the Jagannath temple. The Yatra honors the journey of Lord Jagannath, the supreme God of the Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). As per Hindu mythology, Lord Jagannath is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is annually observed in the Jagannath Temple of Puri, a city in the Odisha state of India. The holy month of Ashahdha is marked by the worship of the elder siblings of Lord Jagannath. Numerous hill tribes of Odisha partake in the execution of the festival, as Lord Jagannath is himself believed to be a tribal deity. The preparation for the festival begins at least a month before. The wood of the Neem tree is used to build three massive chariots that carry the idols. As many as 1,400 workers trained in ancient carpentry build the chariot from scratch. The three chariots are built without any measuring tape, nails, or glue — only wooden pegs and old-school joints. Lord Jagannath’s chariot is about 44 feet tall, with wheels doused in red and yellow color. Whereas the other two chariots are 43 and 42 feet tall to signify the ascension of the younger siblings from the lord. The word Jagannath is derived from the letters ‘Jagat’ and ‘Nath,’ which translates to the Lord of the Universe.
Dr Rabindra Behera,MP Jajpur; May the divine light of Lord Jagannath guide you towards peace, prosperity, and ultimate success in life.
Priti Ranjan Ghadei,Former Minster; As Lord Jagannath begins his majestic chariot journey today, may he destroy all the obstacles, doubts, and mental anxieties from your path. Jai Jagannath!
Amar kumar Nayak,MLA,Badachana ; May the holy dynamic strings of the Nandighosha chariot pull away all your financial miseries and bless your home with spiritual abundance. Happy Rath Yatra!
Akash das Nayak,MLA,Korei; Wishing you a blissful Jagannath Rath Yatra. May the massive ocean of pure devotion in Puri fill your soul with immense satisfaction and eternal calm.
Himanshu sekhar Sahoo,MLA,Dharmasala ; Walking with the Lord of the Universe today. May His absolute grace shine upon your career and personal goals. Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra.
Manoj Mohapatra,BJP Odisha spokesperson ; May the holy 56 Bhog of Mahaprabhu satisfy your soul and bless your kitchen with ultimate abundance, health, and nourishment.
Goutam Ray,Bjp Leader; Chanting ‘Jai Jagannath’ is not just a sound; it’s a spiritual and biological shield that protects your entire family from external negative energies.
Writer Taraprasad Mishra; May Lord Balabhadra grant you massive physical strength, Ma Subhadra bring good fortune, and Lord Jagannath bless you with absolute wisdom.
Dr Suresh Chandra Dalei,IAS; No matter how chaotic the external world becomes, may you always find your safe sanctuary at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu. Jai Jagannath!
Amber Kumar Kar,Collector,Jajpur; Let us celebrate the glory of Lord Krishna’s divine return with immense joy, dynamic energy, and absolute surrender. Wishing you a safe and blessed Rath Yatra!
Yashpratap Shrimal,SP,Jajpur; “Wishing you a joyous and blessed Ratha Yatra! May Lord Jagannath bless you with health, peace, and prosperity on this auspicious occasion.”
Dr Ratnakar Dalei; Wishing you a day of prayer and reflection. May Lord Jagannath bless your home with abundance and your soul with eternal peace and joy.
Ajay Kumar Behera,Govt Officer; On this sacred day, may the Lord grant you the strength to stand for the truth. Wishing you a very Happy Ratha Yatra 2026.
Er Komal Kumar Swain; May the spiritual journey of Ratha Yatra bring you closer to your roots and fill your life with pure happiness and divine light.
Writer Jayaprakash Nayak; May the wheels of time turn in your favor as the chariot rolls forward. Wishing you a successful and very Happy Ratha Yatra today.
Manas kumar Tripathy,OAS Officer; Let us welcome the Lord with open hearts. May His presence bring harmony and prosperity to your family. Happy Ratha Yatra to you all!
Jhilik Bhattacharjee. Ollwyood actress ; May the divine chariot carry the message of love and peace to every corner of your heart. Wishing you a blessed Ratha Yatra 2026.
Rasmita Nayak ,Social Worker; Sending you warm hugs and holy wishes. May Lord Jagannath fulfill every wish of your heart on this beautiful Ratha Yatra festival day.
Amitav Mohapatra,Police Officer; May the blessings of the Supreme Lord give you the power to overcome all life’s difficulties. Have a wonderful and Happy Ratha Yatra today.
Sarat Chandra Patra,Police Officer; A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements.
Ranjt Mohanty ,Police Officer; On this special day, may the Lord shower His grace upon your children and parents. Wishing you a very Happy Ratha Yatra with family.
Tapan kumar Nayak,Police Officer; May the chariot of the Lord guide you toward a path of righteousness and success. Wishing you a very Happy Ratha Yatra 2026 festival.
Rakesh Kumar Tripathy,Police Officer; “Wishing you and your family a blessed and prosperous Jagannath Ratha Yatra 2026!”
Sushanta Kumar Sethy,Police Officer; “May Lord Jagannath’s chariot journey destroy all obstacles and fill your life with peace and joy. Jai Jagannath!”
Chinmayee Sahoo,Police Officer; “Wishing you a joyful Ratha Yatra! May the Lord bless your home with spiritual abundance and prosperity.”
Anshumala Das,Police Officer; “May the pulling of the sacred chariots pull away all your worries and bring you immense happiness. Happy Ratha Yatra!”
Pratap Chandra Debata,Police Officer; Jai Jagannath! 🌸 Wishing you and your loved ones a blissful and divine Ratha Yatra.”
Gyanaranjan Mohapatra,Social Worker; May the divine chariot of Lord Jagannath carry you toward success.
Pramod Kumar Kabi ,Social Worker; “May the Lord of the Universe bless you with good health, success, and eternal calm. Happy Ratha Yatra!”
Pradip Kumar Parida,Social Worker; Wishing you and your family a blessed and prosperous Ratha Yatra
Rajesh kumar Pal,Youth Leader; May Lord Jagannath bless your home with peace, health, and joy.
Abhisek Rout,Youth Leader; Let us celebrate the chariot journey with pure devotion and faith.