By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 16, 2026
Agartala, July 16 (FD) Thousands of devotees across Tripura participated in the annual Rath Yatra celebrations on Thursday, pulling elaborately decorated chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra through towns and villages amid religious fervour and elaborate security arrangements.
Observed during the holy month of Shravan, Rath Yatra is one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar. The festival marks the ceremonial journey of the sibling deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra—who are taken out in richly decorated wooden chariots, allowing devotees to offer prayers and seek blessings.
As in previous years, hundreds of chariots rolled through roads across the state, with devotees enthusiastically pulling the sacred ropes amid chants of devotional hymns and kirtans. The largest and most prominent processions were held in Agartala and Melaghar, while celebrations were also organised in all subdivision headquarters and several villages across Tripura.
In the state capital, the two principal Rath Yatra processions were organised by ISKCON Agartala and the historic Jagannath Bari Temple, drawing thousands of devotees.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu jointly flagged off the 12th ISKCON Rath Yatra from in front of the state government's Purbasha Emporium at around 5 pm. around the same time, the Rath Yatra from the centuries-old Jagannath Bari Temple also commenced.
Both chariots travelled through major roads of Agartala before returning to their respective starting points. Devotees lined both sides of the route, offering prayers, chanting bhajans and touching the ropes of the chariots—a ritual believed to bring spiritual merit and divine blessings.
The colourful processions were led by ISKCON monks and priests, along with religious leaders from the Jagannath Bari Temple, while cultural and devotional performances added to the festive atmosphere.
The Tripura Police, in coordination with the district administration and organisers, deployed extensive security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the celebrations. Authorities also ensured strict compliance with safety guidelines, particularly regarding the height and dimensions of the chariots, to prevent contact with overhead electricity lines.
The precautions assume added significance in the wake of the tragic Kumarghat Rath Yatra accident in 2023, when eight people lost their lives after a chariot came into contact with a live overhead power line.
Unlike that unfortunate incident, this year's Rath Yatra celebrations across the state concluded peacefully, with no reports of any major untoward incident, allowing devotees to observe the festival in a safe and spiritually uplifting atmosphere. FD JK