Coming 12th July, witness the biggest and oldest Rathyatra in the world – the Rathyatra at Puri.
History & Significance of Rathyatra at Puri
The tradition dates back to 1150 AD when the Temple of Jagganath was completed. The festival is important in two aspects – chhera pahara, wherein the Gajapati Kings’ descendants sweep the area around the Deity and also clean the path on which the Chariot is moving. This is done on both the first and last day of the festival to signify the fact that in the eyes of Lord all beings are equal. In the Rathyatra at Puri, the three deities are taken from the Jagannath Temple in the chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they stay for seven days. After that period, the deities again ride the chariots back to Shri Mandir. Every year lakhs of devotees flock to have a glimpse of Lord Jagannath.
You can easily book a local affordable car rental in Puri to explore to city and the various attractions it has to offer.
When does the Rathyatra happen at Puri?
As per the traditional Odia calendar, Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya marks the beginning and Ashadha Shukla Dashami marks the end of Rathyatra. For 2021, Rathyatra begins on July 12 and concludes on July 23.
How to get there?
You can fly to the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar which is the closest airport from Puri at a distance of 56 km. Book a convenient Bhubaneswar to Puri cab and enjoy a scenic drive of 90 minutes.
Puri is well connected by road to the neighboring cities. You can book a cab from Gaya to Puri. Other cities are Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Kharagpur, Kolkata, etc.
City Facts
| Location | Puri, Orissa |
| Begins | Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya |
| Ends | Ashadha Shukla Dashami |
| Observed by | Hindus |
| Famous for | The biggest and oldest Rathyatra in the world |
