The sacred festival of the Jagannath Rath Yatra began on Thursday. This world-famous religious festival will continue until July 24th. Held in Puri, Odisha, this Rath Yatra holds special religious significance in the Sanatan tradition. According to the Hindu calendar, every year on the second day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase) of the month of Ashadha, Lord Jagannath, along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, seated in magnificent chariots, departs from the Srimandir for the Gundicha Temple.

The most unique tradition of the Jagannath Rath Yatra is that on this occasion, the Lord himself comes out of the temple and gives darshan to his devotees. It is believed that for devotees who, for some reason, are unable to reach the sanctum sanctorum of the Srimandir, the Lord himself appears on the way to give darshan. The three idols of the deities remain seated in the Gundicha Temple for nine days. According to scriptures, having a darshan of the Lord here is equivalent to the merits of performing a hundred yagnas.

The nearly three-kilometer-long chariot route, known as "Bada Danda," from the Srimandir to the Gundicha Temple, was thronged by devotees. The sound of conch shells, the resounding sound of drums and cymbals, and chants of "Jai Jagannath," immersed the entire Puri in a devotional atmosphere. Despite the rain, nearly two lakh devotees participated in the Rath Yatra, and there was no lack of enthusiasm.

During the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, seated on separate, massive wooden chariots, tour the city.

Nandi Ghosh – Lord Jagannath's chariot, decorated with yellow and red fabrics.

Taladhvaja – Lord Balabhadra's chariot, decorated with red and green fabrics.

Darpadalan (Padma Rath) – Goddess Subhadra's chariot, decorated with red and black fabrics.

According to mythological beliefs, the Gundicha Temple is considered the home of Lord Jagannath's aunt. It is also known as Gundicha Tirtha or Janakpuri. Every year, the Lord resides here for nine days with his brothers and sisters.

Before the Rath Yatra begins, the Gajapati Maharaja sweeps the chariot path with a golden broom. This tradition, called "Chhera Pahara," is considered a symbol of equality, service, and humility. It is believed that this brings special blessings from the Lord.

In addition to Puri, grand preparations and celebrations for the Jagannath Rath Yatra were witnessed in many cities across the country, including Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Hyderabad in Telangana, and Kolkata in West Bengal.

In Hyderabad, the Rath Yatra is being held from Indira Park to Nampally, attracting a large number of devotees. In Kolkata, preparations for the Rath Yatra are also in the final stages.

BJP MP Sambit Patra also participated in the Rath Yatra. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan arrived in Puri before the start of the Yatra and received blessings from Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati at Govardhan Peetha. Odisha government ministers Krishna Chandra Mahapatra and Suryavanshi Suraj were also present.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed puja at the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and participated in the Rath Yatra.

Famous singer Sonu Nigam also participated in the Puri Rath Yatra for the first time. He said that he has been singing hymns to Lord Jagannath for the past 34-35 years, but this is the first time he has had the opportunity to witness this divine event in person. He described it as a very emotional and unforgettable moment in his life.

Due to the presence of millions of devotees for the Rath Yatra, extensive security arrangements have been made. The administration has made special arrangements to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the event, deploying security forces along the entire Rath route.

Even amidst the rain, the enthusiasm of the devotees remained high. Thousands of devotees and security personnel were seen pulling the huge ropes of the chariots with complete devotion and discipline on the wet roads. Devotees believe that the rain on this day symbolizes the blessings of Lord Jagannath himself.