Ratha Yatra-2025
Rathayatra (also spelled Ratha Yatra or Chariot Festival) is a major Hindu festival that involves the grand procession of deities in elaborately decorated chariots. It is most famously celebrated in Puri, Odisha, where millions of devotees gather to witness and participate in the journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
Key Highlights:
- Date: Rathayatra falls on the second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Ashadha (June–July).
- Location: Though celebrated across India and globally, the Puri Rathayatra is the most prominent and historically significant.
- Chariots:
- Nandighosa: Lord Jagannath's chariot (16 wheels, ~45 feet tall)
- Taladhwaja: Lord Balabhadra's chariot (14 wheels)
- Darpadalana: Devi Subhadra's chariot (12 wheels)