The world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra is set to begin on June 27 this year, marking the start of one of Hinduism’s most sacred annual journeys. Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, will embark on a grand procession from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri. This nine-day spiritual event attracts millions of devotees from across India and abroad, who believe that witnessing the divine chariot procession brings blessings and liberation from worldly suffering.

Before the Rath Yatra begins, Lord Jagannath observes a 14-day period of solitary rest known as Anasara, starting from the day of Snana Purnima, which falls on June 11 this year. On this day, the deities are bathed with water from 108 pitchers in a sacred ritual called Sahastra Dhara Snan. Following this ceremonial bath, the deities are believed to fall ill and rest in seclusion, reappearing in public only on the day of the Rath Yatra.

The tradition of the Rath Yatra is rooted in ancient legends. As per the Padma Purana, the chariot festival commemorates the time when Subhadra expressed a desire to tour the city, prompting Lord Jagannath to take both his siblings to his aunt’s home, the Gundicha Temple. The sequence of the chariots is significant, Balabhadra leads the procession, followed by Subhadra, with Jagannath’s chariot at the end. Historians suggest that the festival began between the 12th and 16th centuries, evolving into a massive celebration of devotion, heritage, and community.