The world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be held in Puri on July 16, when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra travel in three massive chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Shree Gundicha Temple. This annual Hindu festival attracts devotees from across India and around the world.

The celebrations begin earlier with Snana Purnima (Devasnana Purnima) in June, drawing lakhs of devotees, saints, and pilgrims to the Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Puri, which becomes filled with spiritual fervor and devotion.

During the Rath Yatra, the deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for nine days. On the fifth day, Maa Mahalaxmi proceeds to the Gundicha Temple in a special ritual that symbolizes her visit and expresses the traditional lore of her separation from Lord Jagannath, an important and meaningful part of the festival’s customs.