The grand Jagannath Rath Yatra officially began today on June 27, 2025, and the social media feeds are filled with images and videos of the vibrant chariots, large crowds of devotees and divine celebrations, which are presently underway in the city of Puri in Odisha. From Instagram reels to the trends on X, there are colourful pictures of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra being pulled through the streets, which has filled the nation with a devotional atmosphere.
As the excitement and information about the Yatra is being shared online, many people are curious to know more about the Rath Yatra, Jagannath Temple, its history and mysteries, which have fascinated the devotees for centuries. If you are one among them, then continue reading to know everything about it.
What is the Rath Yatra?
The Rath Yatra, a.k.a the chariot festival, is marked as the beginning of a journey by three deities, Lord Jagannath, his brother, Balabhadra and their sister, Subhadra, from their temple to the Gundicha Temple. As you might have seen in the pictures, they are carried in three golden wooden chariots which are pulled by the crowds of devotees with a thick rope.