Puri resonating with unparalleled spiritual fervour as Rath Yatra commences

By  News On Air   Jul 16, 2026

The sacred city of Puri in Odisha is immersed in an ocean of devotion as the world-renowned Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is progressing with immense religious fervour. The ceremonial pulling of the three majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra commenced this afternoon following the completion of the sacred Pahandi Bije and Chhera Pahanra rituals. Amid the reverberation of conch shells, Vedic hymns and resounding chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’, lakhs of devotees are participating in the pulling of the colossal wooden chariots along the Bada Danda towards the Sri Gundicha Temple, revered as the maternal aunt’s abode of the sibling deities. Despite intermittent rain, devotees have remained undeterred, turning the Grand Road into an ocean of faith and devotion. Elaborate security, traffic regulation, crowd management and emergency response arrangements are in place to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the world-famous festival.
Meanwhile, one devotee lost his life and several others sustained injuries in a stampede during the Rath Yatra. The unfortunate incident occurred amid an unprecedented surge of devotees participating in the ceremonial pulling of the chariots along the Grand Road. The injured were immediately evacuated by emergency response teams and shifted to nearby hospitals, where they are undergoing treatment. The district administration, police, fire services and health personnel swiftly launched rescue and crowd-management operations to restore normalcy. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of life and directed senior officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.