Rath Yatra In Puri

Rath Yatra Festival is the most famous festival that happens in Puri. People from all over the world come each year to be a part of one of the largest festival and fair in India. The deity trio of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra are brought outside the temple premises only once a year. They are put on a chariot or a ‘Rath’ and are brought outside for public view, irrespective of religions. This happens during the rainy season in the months of June to July or the “asara’ month. This is the biggest festival in Puri and the largest fair happens at this time where cultural programs are organized as well.

Puri is a photographer’s delight, but it is during this festival that photographers, documentary filmmakers, performing art artists, and painters visit Puri the most.

The other festivals are the Chandan Yatra, the day on which the initiation of the work of the chariot happens on the Akshay Tritiya; the Snana Yatra when the deities are bathed and adorned on a full moon night; the Anansara, a day on which the deities go on a secret room for a vacation.

There are a number of other festivals too like the Maha Shiva Ratri, the Siruli Mahavir Mela, the Konarak Festival, The Puri Beach Festival, the Basant Utsav, The Konarak Music and Dance Festival, the Magha Mela, the Makar Mela to name a few. In Puri, celebration happens round the year.