Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra Begins in Puri Amidst Celestial Arrangements

The annual Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, commences today and, due to specific celestial arrangements, will extend over two days. President Droupadi Murmu is anticipated to join millions of devotees in witnessing the festival.

The Odisha government has made extensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event. Special security measures have been implemented for the President’s visit, including a designated VIP zone for the Odisha governor, chief minister, Union ministers, and other dignitaries. A buffer zone has also been planned for the President, as per ADG (law and order) Sanjay Kumar, who spoke to news agency PTI.

Traditionally a one-day event, the Rath Yatra was last extended to two days in 1971. The festival involves rituals dedicated to the Hindu deities Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra.

Known as the Chariot Festival, the Yatra marks the journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple, and concludes with their return after eight days. The chariots, which have been parked in front of the Lion’s Gate of the Jagannath Temple, will be taken to Gundicha Temple, where they will remain for a week.

In related news, the Tripura government has implemented a standard operating procedure (SOP) for organizing the Rath Yatra in the state to prevent any incidents. This follows the tragic electrocution of ten devotees at Kumarghat in Unakoti district during a Rath Yatra organized by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

District Magistrate West Tripura Vishal Kumar informed ANI that this year’s precautions include using insulative materials for chariot construction and restricting the chariot height to five meters.

The Rath Yatra, along with rituals such as ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ and ‘Netra Utsav,’ will take place on a single day this year—July 7. ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ signifies the deities’ youthful appearance, following a 15-day quarantine period after ‘Snana Purnima,’ during which they are kept behind closed doors. Before this ritual, priests perform ‘Netra Utsav,’ where the deities’ eyeballs are freshly painted.