The grand Puri Rath Yatra 2026 witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees on Thursday as the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra rolled along the Bada Danda (Grand Road). However, the procession could not be completed, with all three chariots halting at different points along the route.
Temple authorities announced that the chariot pulling will resume on Friday after 9 am, following the completion of the prescribed morning rituals atop the chariots.
Chariot Pulling Delayed During the Day
The procession began after the sacred Chhera Panhara ritual, during which Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the Adya Sevak (First Servitor) of Lord Jagannath, ceremonially swept the three chariots with a golden broom.
Following the ritual, thousands of devotees joined together to pull the massive wooden chariots amid chants of devotion and traditional rituals.
Where the Three Chariots Halted
Due to delays in the procession, the three chariots stopped before reaching the Gundicha Temple.
- Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja halted near Market Square.
- Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan stopped at Marichikot Square.
- Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha moved only a short distance from the Singha Dwara (Lion’s Gate) before coming to a halt.
Temple officials said the remaining journey would continue on Friday morning.
Heavy Rain Fails to Dampen Devotees’ Spirit
Despite torrential rainfall throughout the day, lakhs of devotees continued to participate in the annual chariot festival.
The Grand Road resonated with chants of “Jai Jagannath” and “Hari Bol”, while many devotees danced and sang in celebration as the sacred procession unfolded.
Dignitaries Join the Sacred Festival
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, and several state ministers participated in the Rath Yatra and joined devotees in pulling the chariots.
Their participation added to the significance of one of the world’s largest religious festivals.
Chariot Journey to Continue on Friday
The annual nine-day journey of the Holy Trinity to the Gundicha Temple will continue on Friday when the chariot pulling resumes after the completion of morning rituals.
Lakhs of devotees are expected to return to witness the continuation of the sacred procession.
