Rath Yatra — the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in Puri — is held on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha (Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya). In 2027 that date is Monday 5 July, according to published calendars. Read about the festival itself in Rath Yatra.
Provisional dates. The dates below are worked out from the Hindu lunar calendar. The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration had not announced the official 2027 schedule when this page was last checked on 6 October 2026; we will update it when it does.
Expected dates for 2027
| Ritual | Expected date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Snana Purnima | about Friday 18 June 2027 | The deities are bathed in public on the Snana Bedi |
| Anasara | the following ~15 days | The deities "fall ill" and are hidden from view; painted images are worshipped instead |
| Rath Yatra | Monday 5 July 2027 | The three chariots are pulled to the Gundicha Temple |
| Bahuda Yatra | about Tuesday 13 July 2027 | The return journey to the main temple |
Other rituals follow in order — Hera Panchami, Suna Besha, Adhara Pana and Niladri Bije — but their 2027 dates have not been published and we do not list estimates.
The ritual sequence
- Snana Purnima — the public bathing festival on Jyeshtha Purnima.
- Anasara — about two weeks of seclusion; devotees worship patta-chitra paintings of the deities.
- Netrotsava / Nabajaubana darshan — the deities reappear, renewed.
- Rath Yatra — the chariots Nandighosha (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra) and Darpadalana (Subhadra) are pulled along the Bada Danda to the Gundicha Temple.
- Hera Panchami — Goddess Lakshmi visits Gundicha in search of Jagannath.
- Bahuda Yatra — the return journey.
- Suna Besha — the deities are adorned in gold on their chariots.
- Adhara Pana — a sweet drink is offered to the deities on the chariots.
- Niladri Bije — Jagannath re-enters the main temple and returns to the Ratna Simhasana.
How Rath Yatra 2026 went
In 2026 an extra (adhika) lunar month pushed the festival late: Snana Purnima was on 29 June, Rath Yatra on Thursday 16 July, Bahuda Yatra on 24 July and Niladri Bije on the night of 27–28 July.
Tips for visitors
- Book accommodation in Puri months ahead; prices rise sharply around the festival.
- Expect huge crowds, heat and humidity, and monsoon rain. Carry water, wear light traditional clothes and keep valuables to a minimum.
- Follow police and temple directions on the Bada Danda; access is tightly controlled near the chariots.
- Temple rules on dress and phones apply during the festival too — see Jagannath Temple timings and rules.