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Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival)
The great chariot procession of Lord Jagannath — one of the world's largest religious gatherings.
📅 July 7 – 8 days🌙 Lunar calendar
✦ Why It Matters
Rath Yatra is the annual procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha. Over a million devotees pull the massive chariot with ropes. This festival is so famous it gave English the word 'juggernaut.'
✦ How It Is Observed
Pulling of three enormous wooden chariots (raths) by hundreds of thousands of devotees, devotional singing, bathing of deities, ceremonial eye-painting of the deities.
✦ Sacred Text
“Whoever sees Lord Jagannath on his chariot is freed from the bondage of karma, even if they have committed great sins.”
— Skanda Purana ↗
Note on dates: This holiday follows a lunar or lunisolar calendar. The date shown is approximate for 2025–2026. Exact dates may vary by one or two days depending on moon sighting and regional tradition. Always confirm with your local community.