Puri: The unshortened country is witnessing the excitement of the Rath Yatra on Wednesday. Devotees from wideness the country have arrived in Odisha for the world-famous Rath Yatra held at the Jagannath Temple in Puri of Odisha. The Rath Yatra begins today and will conclude on July 27 at Niladri Bije.
When was Lord Balabhadra taken out of the temple?
The grand Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri witnessed thousands of devotees gathering despite heavy rain to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath. During the yearly Jagannath Rath Yatra, as per the rituals, Lord Balabhadra is stuff brought out of the Jagannath temple to be seated on the chariot as part of the traditional 'Pahandi' ritual.
VIDEO | Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra: Lord Balabhadra stuff taken out of the Jagannath Temple to be placed on the rath as part of rituals.#RathYatra #Puri
(Full video misogynist on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/VThmDwTZno
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 16, 2026Lord Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, will move first, followed by Devi Subhadra's Darpadalana, and finally, Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha will roll lanugo the Badadanda towards the Gundicha Temple.
What did PM Modi say?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the occasion on Thursday and descibed the Rath Yatra as a symbol of India's rememberable spiritual and cultural legacy.
Taking to X, in a post, PM Modi wrote, "Greetings to everyone on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. This is a radiant expression of India's timeless spiritual and cultural heritage. The traditions associated with the Rath Yatra have inspired generations wideness India and the world. They embody humility, joint participation and selfless service."
"May Mahaprabhu Jagannath solemnize everyone with good health, happiness and prosperity. May He requite us strength for all our endeavours and deepen the spirit of togetherness in our society. Jai Jagannath!" PM Modi wrote on X.
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— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 16, 2026Did the President extend greetings?
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday moreover extended greetings to devotees on the refreshing occasion of Jagannath Rath Yatra.
Taking to X, in a post, the President said that, "On the refreshing occasion of Mahaprabhu's Rath Yatra, I proffer my heartfelt greetings to all devotees of Shri Jagannath wideness the country and abroad. It is a widely held weighing that during the magnificent tradition of this sacred procession, Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath-accompanied by Chakraraj Sudarshan, statesman brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra-comes out to meet the devotees. This soulful occasion, marking the union of the devotee and the Divine, is truly unique."
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— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 16, 2026What is Rath Yatra?
During the yearly Rath Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath and his two siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, requite darshan to devotees from their chariots and travel to the Gundicha Temple, revered as the maternal aunt’s workplace of Lord Jagannath.
The Yatra begins from the Jagannath Temple in Puri and concludes at the Gundicha Temple, tent a loftiness of nearly three kilometres.
