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Jagannath Rath Yatra is an annual event that sees hundreds of thousands of Hindus flock to the city of Puri for a chance to earn religious favour from Lord Jagganath, an avatar of Lord Krishna. It is also the one time each year that Hindus and non-Hindus can sight three religious idols that are otherwise concealed within their respective temples, so it attracts hordes of visitors from around India and worldwide.

Rituals follow the traditional sequence over several days—starting with Snana Purnima (12 June), then Anavasara, Gundicha Marjana, the main Yatra, Hera Panchami, Bahuda Yatra, concluding with Suna Besha and Niladri Bijay on 5 July
This year, rituals begin on 12th June with Snana Purnima – the bathing of the deities. Jagannath Rath Yatra itself takes place on Friday 27th June, 2025.

The King of Orissa, traditionally the only person with authority to remove the idols from their temples, opens the festivities by strewing the chariots with petals. He also sweeps the ground in front of the chariots with a gold broom and sprinkles it with sandalwood water to purify and bless it. In the meantime, the fervour of devotees rises with the beating of drums, chanting and dancing. Music and dancing accompany the procession the whole way.

Idols of Lord Jagganath, the Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra are pulled in separate wooden chariots embellished by local artisans to resemble South Indian temples. Lord Balabhadra’s comes first. This stands just below 14 metres high and has 14 wheels. In the middle of the parade is Goddess Subhadra’s chariot, which is 14 metres high and has 12 wheels. At the rear, Lord Jagganath’s chariot is the largest and most vibrant. This has 16 huge wheels and measures over 14 metres high. Each chariot is tied to 50 metre long ropes, which devotees jostle to pull, as a way of showing their piety.

The whole event is imbibed with a feeling of brotherhood, with believers of all faiths coming together to witness this epic event alongside each other.

During the Rath Yatra festival, hotels near Puri Jagannath temple are very full and can be disturbed by the raucous celebrations. Other hotels near Puri might be a better option. Bhubaneswar to Puri by road takes just under 2 hours. By train, it takes around 1 hour. Administration is making thorough preparations to accommodate visitors coming to Bhubaneswar for the Puri Rath Yatra 2025.

Trident, Bhubaneswar is one of the top hotels near Bhubaneswar railway station. With warm hospitality, comfortable accommodation and beautiful grounds that cover almost 57 thousand square metres of lush gardens with fruit trees, flowerbeds and manicured lawns, Trident, Bhubaneswar the perfect escape from the hustle bustle of Rath Yatra 2025.

Dining options include a restaurant with lavish décor, resonant of the temple region the hotel is located in. The menu includes vegetarian, non-veg and seafood dishes with Indian and international flavours. There is a 24 hour fitness centre, a swimming pool, a tennis court and a jogging track, for resident guests’ exclusive use. Trident, Bhubaneswar is also equipped with electric vehicle charging stations for the convenience of guests making the Puri to Bhubaneswar trip by car.

Exclusive offer is available at Trident, Bhubaneswar to make your Rath Yatra stay special. Click here to know more.