As lakhs of devotees gathered in Puri, a city of God love and worshiped their city of Puri in Odisha as thousands of people flocked to the holy city to start the much-anticipated Rath Yatra chariot pulling ceremony.
The sacred festival, for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, one of India’s largest and most important religious events with pilgrims from all over the country and around the world, is one of India’s largest and most cherished events and has long been one of the world’s largest and most revered.
The huge wooden chariots waiting there on the Grand Road were fully loaded and waiting for the pull of the ceremonial ropes to be done to begin a new chapter in the centuries-old tradition.
From early in the morning, devotees filled the streets of Puri singing devotional hymns, singing bhajans and offering prayers as they prepared to take part in the historical procession. There were three grandly decorated chariots—Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalana for Goddess Subhadra—that were so beautiful and so full of faith and culture—that gave a testimony of the way people of all faiths looked at them.
Rath Yatra is very important in Hindu tradition. It is a festival in which the deities have been going from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple that is said to be the home of their maternal aunt every year. The procession is a manifestation that the Lord steps out of the temple to bless all the devotees and to bless everyone, irrespective of caste, creed or social class.
One of the most anticipated rituals prior to the chariot pulling is the 'Chhera Pahanra', when the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri ceremonially sweeps the platform of the chariots with a golden broom. The ritual is a sign of humility, that everyone is equal before the divine in the eyes of the people, regardless of social position or authority.
When the preparations are on the last stage, authorities have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the smooth operation of the festival. Thousands of Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Forces, disaster response teams, and medical services are deployed throughout the city. Surveillance cameras, drone monitoring, crowd-control barricades, emergency response units and public announcement facilities are in place to control the huge number of pilgrims who will descend there during the festival.
Healthcare personnel formed temporary medical camps along the procession route and ambulances and emergency services were on standby to respond to any medical situation. Religious and social organizations also helped devotees with drinking water, guidance and other essential services throughout the event.
The Rath Yatra is more than just a religious experience; it is a cultural and economic event for Odisha too. Hotels, guesthouses and transport operators, restaurants and local businesses are all on high-volume as lakhs of pilgrims visit Puri during the festival season. Artisans who use centuries of construction of the huge wooden chariots are also crucial to the preservation of this centuries-old heritage.
Devotees think pulling the chariot is a sacred privilege. People believe pulling the ropes of Lord Jagannath's chariot is spiritual and they are in no doubt that it is an accomplishment of Lord Jagannath. The emotional atmosphere was obvious as all the families, elderly devotees, young pilgrims, and foreigners gathered and chanted "Jai Jagannath" as the procession took place.
The Rath Yatra has been widely recognized for its rich traditions and spiritual significance worldwide. Celebrations inspired by the Puri festival are held in many countries, and the worldwide devotion to Lord Jagannath and the growing international recognition of India's cultural heritage is reflected in this.
VIDEO | Odisha: Devotees gear up for the commencement of Rath Yatra chariot pulling. Visuals from Puri.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 15, 2026
The chariots are standing on the Grand Road in front of the temple under high security cover. Lakhs of devotees from all over India and abroad will witness the pulling of the… pic.twitter.com/ob8yA5sdDV
With millions of people expected to watch the festival on television and digital platforms, police are also advising devotees to coordinate with security forces, follow routes, and comply with security forces to be in line with the security arrangements, and follow safety measures to guarantee the festival is safe, and follow safe precautions in order that the event can take place peacefully, officials say.
Puri again became the spiritual center of India as the ceremonial ropes were laid and the big wooden chariots prepared to roll down the historic Grand Road. The starting of the Rath Yatra chariot pulling is not only the start of a holy journey for the gods but also a celebration in which faith, unity, tradition and devotion are expressed and one that can be observed by the masses and can be reached out to all the world.
