Puri – This year’s Rath Yatra, scheduled for July 7, will see the three chariots of the sibling deities of the Jagannath temple in Puri being pulled from 5 PM onwards. The decision was made due to the convergence of three major events that need to be performed on the same day.
The detailed schedule for the Rath Yatra was formulated during a meeting of the Chhatis Nijog (servitors’ body) and the Niti Sub-Committee of the temple management in Puri on Monday. The final schedule will be confirmed after approval from the temple managing committee at their meeting on Tuesday.
The unique schedule mirrors the Rath Yatra programme from 1971, the last time such a convergence occurred. This year, the festivals of Rath Yatra, Nabajouban Darshan, and Netrotsav will all be celebrated on the same day.
In a slight change to tradition, the ritual of Angyamala from the temple will be skipped. Instead, the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will be moved directly from Ratha Khala (chariot making workshop) to Singhadwar (Lions Gate) in front of the temple.
Schedule of Rituals for Rath Yatra on July 7:
- Mangal Arati: 2 AM
- Dasavatar Bahudabije: 2:40 AM
- Opening of Anasarghara: 3 AM
- Netrotsav Puja: 4 AM
- Dwarapala Puja: 5:25 AM
- Gopal Ballav & Morning Puja: 6 to 7 AM
- Senapata Lagi: 7:30 AM to 12 Noon
- Ratha Pratistha: 11 AM
- Mangalarpana: 1 PM
- Dhadi Pahandi: 1:10 PM
- Completion of Pahandi: 2:30 PM
- Chhera Pahanra: 4 PM
- Charatphita: 4:30 PM
- Chariot Pulling: 5 PM
The Bahuda Yatra (return car festival) is scheduled for July 15, with the Sunabesha (golden attire) of the Lords to be held on July 17.
Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Vir Vikram Yadav, presided over the meeting. District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, SP Pinak Mishra, senior officers of the district administration, and representatives of Chhatis Nijog were also in attendance.
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