Ratha Yatra (Puri)

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article uses texts from within a religion or faith system without referring to secondary sources that critically analyse them. Please help improve this article. (February 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Ratha Yatra of Puri
Three chariots of the deities with the temple in the background, Puri
Also called	Ghosha Jātrā
Observed by	Hindu
Type	Religious
Begins	Āshādha Shukla Dvitiyā
Ends	Āshādha Shukla Dashami
2024 date	7 July, Sunday
2025 date	27 June, Friday[1]
Frequency	annual

The Ratha Yatra of Puri, also rendered as the Ratha Jatra (Odia: ରଥଯାତ୍ରା, lit. 'chariot festival') (/ˈrʌθə ˈjɑːtrɑː/, Odia pronunciation: [ɾɔt̪ʰɔ dʒat̪ɾa]), is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July).^[2][3]

The Ratha Yatra is held at the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India and associated with the deity Jagannath (a form of Vishnu or Krishna).^[2] During the festival, three deities (Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra) are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots on bada danda (the grand avenue) to Gundicha Temple whereby they reside there for a week and then return to the Jagnannath temple. This return trip is referred to as the Bahuda Yatra.^[2][4] On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake supposed to be the deity's favourite. After a stay of seven days, the deities return to their abode.