Puri, the sacred temple town of Odisha, is fully prepared to host the world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025, which begins tomorrow with much spiritual fervour and devotion.
This iconic festival features the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Devi Subhadra, as they are ceremoniously taken to Gundicha Temple in colossal, ornately crafted wooden chariots. The deities remain there for seven days before returning to the Jagannath Temple.
Anticipating huge crowds, traffic regulation is a top priority. ADG Traffic Dayal Gangwar shared that 21 designated parking locations have been prepared. Additionally, five major holding zones will be set up to manage crowd overflow, especially in high-traffic areas.
To enhance public convenience, mobile applications will be employed to disseminate real-time updates and facility access, offering visitors better planning and support during the Yatra.
The massive wooden chariots for the Holy Trinity have been built anew for this year’s procession, continuing the age-old tradition. These majestic structures will once again roll along the Grand Road pulled by thousands of enthusiastic devotees.
As a safety measure, a multi-agency mock drill was recently held near the Jagannath Temple. Puri SP Vineet Agarwal confirmed that 11 security and disaster-response agencies participated in this anti-terror preparedness exercise.
Earlier, on June 11 (Snana Purnima), the three deities underwent the sacred Snana ritual, where they were ritually bathed with 108 pots of sanctified water, a symbolic prelude to the Rath Yatra.
This divine procession, held annually during Shukla Paksha in June or July, is one of India’s grandest religious events, drawing millions from across the globe.