Puri: Amid chants of “Jai Jagannath” and an atmosphere charged with devotion, the grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshan rolled onto the historic Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Puri on Thursday, marking the commencement of the world-renowned Rath Yatra 2026.
The ceremonial pulling of the chariots began at around 5:10 PM, following the completion of the sacred Chhera Panhara ritual performed by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath. The ritual commenced later than scheduled due to intermittent heavy rainfall in the Holy City.
Earlier in the day, the deities were ceremonially escorted from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to their respective chariots through the traditional Dhadi Pahandi procession. The elaborate ritual concluded at around 1:45 PM, drawing thousands of devotees who gathered to witness the divine journey.
In accordance with centuries-old tradition, Chakraraj Sudarshan, the celestial weapon of Lord Jagannath, was first placed on Darpa Dalan, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. This was followed by the ceremonial procession of Lord Balabhadra to Taladhwaja, Devi Subhadra to Darpa Dalan, and finally Lord Jagannath to Nandighosha.
The procession unfolded amid the rhythmic sounds of traditional instruments such as the ghanta (gong), kahali (trumpet) and telingi baja, while priests chanted Vedic hymns and Odissi dancers offered devotional performances in honour of the deities.
Following the Pahandi rituals, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb offered prayers before performing the revered Chhera Panhara ceremony, during which he symbolically swept the chariots with a golden broom, signifying humility and equality before the Lord.
After the completion of all rituals, lakhs of devotees joined in pulling the towering chariots towards the Gundicha Temple, located about three kilometres from the main Jagannath Temple. The deities will stay at Gundicha Temple for nine days before returning to the Srimandir during the Bahuda Yatra.
Despite intermittent rain, the festive spirit remained undiminished as pilgrims from across India and abroad thronged Puri to witness one of the world’s largest and most significant religious gatherings, celebrating faith, devotion and Odisha’s rich spiritual heritage.
