Jagannath Rath Yatra 2027
Three great wooden chariots, pulled through Puri by hand.
Countdown to Rath Yatra 2027
Dates
When is Jagannath Rath Yatra?
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2027 falls on Monday, 5 July 2027.
Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya falls on Monday 5 Jul.
Date checked against dekhopanchang.com
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 July 2026Thu | 1 day | Past |
| 2027 | 5 July 2027Mon | 1 day | Confirmed |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Parade & Carnival
- Tradition
- Hindu
- Where
- Puri, Odisha
- Crowd
- Hundreds of thousands in Puri
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
Once a year the deities of Puri's Jagannath temple leave their sanctum and ride through the town on chariots several storeys high, pulled by thousands of hands along the Grand Road.
Rath Yatra falls on the second day of the bright half of the month of Ashadha. Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are carried out of the temple in a swaying procession called pahandi, mounted on three chariots, and pulled about three kilometres along the Bada Danda, Puri's Grand Road, to the Gundicha temple.
The chariots are built new every year from wood, following rules handed down by hereditary carpenters, and each has its own name, colours and number of wheels. Before the chariots move, the Gajapati, the titular king of Puri, sweeps the platforms with a golden-handled broom. After about a week at Gundicha, the deities return in the Bahuda Yatra.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of Rath Yatra
Traditions
What actually happens
- Snana Purnima — the ceremonial bathing of the deities a few weeks before the festival.
- Pahandi — the rhythmic procession carrying the deities from the temple to the chariots.
- Chhera Pahanra — the Gajapati king sweeps the chariots as a humble servant of Jagannath.
- Bahuda Yatra — the return journey to the main temple about nine days later.
Food
The table, widened
- Mahaprasad — rice, dal, vegetables and sweets cooked in clay pots in the temple kitchen and sold at Ananda Bazaar.
- Poda pitha — a baked rice-and-jaggery cake associated with the Bahuda Yatra.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Cymbals, gongs, conches and drums accompany the chariots, and devotional singers chant as the ropes are pulled. Odissi music and the temple's own traditions of song are heard throughout the festival.
Religion
Why this date
Jagannath, 'Lord of the Universe', is worshipped as a form of Krishna and Vishnu. The Rath Yatra brings the deities out among the people, so that anyone — including those not permitted inside the temple — can see them. Helping to pull the chariot ropes is considered a great blessing.
History
How it survived
The Jagannath temple in its present form dates from the twelfth century, built under the Eastern Ganga dynasty, and the festival has been recorded by visitors for centuries. The English word 'juggernaut' comes from European accounts of the vast chariots. ISKCON has carried Rath Yatra processions to cities around the world since the late 1960s.
History
How it got here
The Jagannath temple in its present form dates from the twelfth century, built under the Eastern Ganga dynasty, and the festival has been recorded by visitors for centuries. The English word 'juggernaut' comes from European accounts of the vast chariots. ISKCON has carried Rath Yatra processions to cities around the world since the late 1960s.
12th century
The temple
The present Jagannath temple at Puri is built under the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
1300s
Foreign accounts
European travellers describe the chariots, giving English the word 'juggernaut'.
1967
San Francisco
ISKCON holds one of the first Rath Yatras outside India.
Today
New chariots
Three chariots are still built from scratch every year in Puri.
Travel & practical
Visiting Puri for Rath Yatra
Getting there
Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is about 60 km from Puri; Puri station has direct trains from Kolkata, Delhi and other cities.
Best vantage
Rooftops and balconies along the Grand Road give the clearest view; many are booked well in advance.
Practical notes
Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Jagannath temple, but everyone can watch the Rath Yatra. It falls in the monsoon, so expect heat, humidity and rain.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
Jagannath Rath Yatra: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about Jagannath Rath Yatra.
When is Jagannath Rath Yatra in 2026 and 2027?
Rath Yatra falls on Thursday 16 July 2026 and Monday 5 July 2027, the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha in each year.
How long does the festival last?
The chariot procession is on one day, but the deities stay at the Gundicha temple for about a week before the return journey, Bahuda Yatra.
Can visitors pull the chariots?
Devotees join in pulling the ropes, but the crowds are extremely dense. Follow police guidance and stay with your group.
What are the three chariots called?
Nandighosa for Jagannath, Taladhwaja for Balabhadra and Darpadalana for Subhadra.
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