Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Date, Timings, ISKCON Celebrations, Rituals, and Full Schedule

The Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, is one of the most revered and awaited Hindu festivals celebrated with grandeur in Puri, Odisha. In 2025, the festival will be observed on Friday, June 27, marking the divine journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.

Rath Yatra 2025 Date and Auspicious Timings

As per Drik Panchang, the festival falls on the Dwitiya Tithi (second lunar day of Shukla Paksha). The auspicious timings for this year are:

• Dwitiya Tithi Begins: June 26, 2025, at 1:24 PM

• Dwitiya Tithi Ends: June 27, 2025, at 11:19 AM

Nine-Day Festival Schedule

Here’s a detailed look at the Rath Yatra 2025 schedule:

The celebrations begin with Anavasara, a 13-day period when the deities are believed to rest after Snana Purnima, and culminate with Niladri Bijay, marking the return of the deities to their sanctum.

Significance of Jagannath Rath Yatra

Rooted in deep mythology and dating back to between the 12th and 16th centuries, the Rath Yatra is more than a festival—it is a spiritual journey that symbolizes love, devotion, and divine reunion.

Some legends associate the yatra with Lord Krishna’s visit to his maternal home, while others believe it is tied to King Indradyumna, who first commissioned the Jagannath Temple. The festival gained prominence during the reign of Odisha’s Gajapati dynasty and remains a powerful symbol of cultural and religious unity.

Sacred Rituals and Traditions

The Rath Yatra is steeped in meaningful rituals, each carrying symbolic significance:

• Rath Snana: The deities are given a ceremonial bath with 108 pots of holy water in a purifying ritual.

• Rath Pratistha: Newly constructed chariots are consecrated with sacred Vedic chants by temple priests.

• Rath Yatra (Main Procession): The deities are placed on massive, beautifully decorated wooden chariots and pulled by thousands of devotees on a 3-kilometre journey from the Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple.

• Bahuda Yatra: The return journey of the deities to the main temple after their nine-day stay.

• Suna Besha: The deities are adorned with golden ornaments in a majestic display of divine grandeur.

• Niladri Bijay: Marks the symbolic end of the Yatra, where the chariots are dismantled until the next year.

ISKCON’s Rath Yatra 2025 Celebration

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is also preparing for grand celebrations. According to reports, ISKCON Prayagraj will hold its Rath Yatra on Sunday, June 29, 2025, to ensure greater public participation.

• Start Time: 4:00 PM

• Starting Point: Hira Halwai Crossing

• Route: Through Subhash Chauraha and Hanuman Mandir

• Final Destination: KP Ground

ISKCON Prayagraj Temple President Achyuta Mohan Das shared that holding the event on a Sunday allows more devotees to take part and receive blessings from Lord Jagannath.

Conclusion

The Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 promises yet another spiritually enriching and visually grand celebration of Lord Jagannath's sacred journey. Whether in Puri or across ISKCON temples in India, the festival brings together devotees from all walks of life, celebrating unity, devotion, and tradition.

From sacred rituals to majestic chariot processions, every moment of the Yatra is a reminder of divine presence and cultural heritage that continues to thrive through the centuries.

Also Read:

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 Begins with Snana Purnima: Check Complete Schedule and Significance