The Rath Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, is a significant and vibrant annual festival for Lord Sri Jagannath devotees. While celebrated in various forms across India and the world, the most famous and original iteration takes place in Puri, Odisha.

The festival honors Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra. It is held annually on the second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu lunar month of Ashadha (typically falling in June or July).

On this day, the deities are taken out of the main Jagannath Temple in a grand procession on the chariots to the Gundicha Temple. At Gundicha, They reside there for nine days before returning to their original abode in a return journey known as the Bahuda Yatra.

A unique aspect of this festival is that hundreds of thousands of devotees pull the three massive, wooden chariots using thick ropes. The most prominent belief associated with pulling the chariots is based on the Skanda Purana, which states that those who get the opportunity to touch the rope or pull the chariot of Lord Jagannath are absolved of their sins. It is believed that this act helps the devotee break free from the cycle of birth and death, ultimately leading to salvation or Moksha.

The Rath Yatra is a rare festival where the divine descends from the sanctum sanctorum to the streets to meet the common people. By pulling the chariot, devotees from all walks of life—regardless of caste, status, or background—work together to move the Lord. It emphasizes that before the divine, everyone is equal. When a devotee pulls the rope, they surrender their ego and participate in service to the Lord.

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