- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 27 Jun 2025 10:32 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra began today in Odisha, attracting lakhs of devotees who lined the 18-kilometre stretch to catch a glimpse of the grand procession. In Odisha, the historic Rath Yatra commenced from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple located in the Jamalpur area. The majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Goddess Subhadra travel from the main temple to Gundicha Temple amid chants, drumbeats, and spiritual hymns. The vibrant procession, lined with devotees pulling the massive chariots, symbolises devotion and community spirit.
The festival, dating back centuries, celebrated for taking deities out of temples to travel among devotees, is now celebrated with the same enthusiasm by devotees across the world. From Bhubaneswar to New York and Edinburgh, Rath Yatra keeps bringing together millions in joy and devotion. The spirit of the festival is in bringing the divine to the streets, a symbolic path that reminds the devotees of the deeper message of devotion, purification, and service to society. As international participation increases each year, Rath Yatra is a testament to the continued spiritual practices of India and how their timelessness resonates with the contemporary world.
ISKCON's Rath Yatra on Fifth Avenue, New York City, thousands participated in the vibrant chariot festival. | Credit: X
Devotees drew the beautifully decorated chariots while dancing and singing devotional songs along one of the most recognizable streets on earth. | Credit: X
The Rathayatra, one of the biggest outside India, included participation by diplomats from India, Suriname, Nepal, and Mauritius, highlighting the festival's international popularity and India's cultural reach. | Credit: X
Indian Vice Consulate and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh were among the participants in the ancient Gundica Marjana ceremonycleaning the way ahead of the deity's chariot as an act of humility and spiritual purging. | Credit: X
ISKCON Edinburgh hosts a colourful Rath Yatra in Scotland that attracts huge crowds. The devotees believe that Gundica Marjana is not only a ritual but a symbolic reminder to cleanse the mind and heart to accommodate divinity within. | Credit: X
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Around the world, Believers drew the beautifully decorated chariots while dancing and singing devotional songs along one of the most recognizable streets on earth. Indian Vice Consulate also participated in the event | Credit : X