The annual Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri continued on Friday with lakhs of devotees pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra towards the Gundicha Temple amid chants of “Jai Jagannath.” The procession resumed a day after the festival began, as none of the three chariots had reached their destination on Thursday due to delays in the ceremonial rituals. According to officials, the deities remained on their chariots overnight after the procession was halted because of darkness. The Gundicha Temple, the destination of the annual journey, is located around 2.6 kilometres from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple.

Devotees resumed pulling the chariots on Friday morning despite intermittent rain and humid weather, with large crowds gathering along the Grand Road to participate in the centuries-old tradition. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, regarded as the first servitor of Lord Jagannath and the sibling deities, said there was nothing unusual about the chariot pulling continuing the next day. In a video message, he noted that the chariots have on several occasions failed to reach the Gundicha Temple on the scheduled day, requiring the procession to continue the following morning.

On Thursday, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot travelled approximately 700 metres before stopping at Market Chhak. Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariot covered around 400 metres and halted at Marichikote Chhak, while Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha chariot moved only a short distance from the Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate) of the main temple before the procession was suspended. Authorities estimated a massive turnout for the festival, though official figures varied. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said around 10 to 12 lakh devotees participated in the Rath Yatra, while the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) estimated attendance at approximately 8 to 9 lakh people.

Also Read: SC Clears ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ Animated Film Release Following Rath Yatra Celebrations

SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said there was no delay in the scheduled rituals themselves but acknowledged that the Pahandi ceremony, during which the deities are ceremonially carried from the temple to their chariots, was delayed by more than an hour. He said Lord Jagannath’s idol remained stationary near the temple’s main gate for around 40 minutes, contributing to the delay in the overall procession. The Rath Yatra is one of Hinduism’s largest and most significant religious festivals, drawing devotees from across India and abroad every year. The festival commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, where the deities remain for several days before returning in the Bahuda Yatra.

Extensive security arrangements and crowd management measures have been put in place by the Odisha government and local authorities to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Thousands of police personnel, volunteers and emergency responders have been deployed across Puri to manage the large influx of pilgrims and maintain public safety. With the chariot procession continuing on Friday, devotees remained engaged in pulling the massive wooden chariots through the streets of Puri, keeping alive a centuries-old tradition that holds deep religious and cultural significance for millions of worshippers.

Also Read: Banks to Remain Closed in Odisha, Uttarakhand, Manipur on July 16