Rath Yatra in 2025

Rath Yatra, also called the Chariot Festival, is an annual event that typically takes place in June or July. It marks the ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath from the Jagannath Temple in Puri to the Gundicha Temple. This year, the festival begins on Friday, June 27th and will end on Saturday, July 5th.

It is celebrated with several rituals by people of all backgrounds, both in India and abroad. To honour the occasion of Rath Yatra in 2025, banks and financial institutions may remain closed in Odisha. As a result, it is recommended to take care of any crucial banking tasks, such as opening accounts or visiting branches for transactions, ahead of time.

Key Rituals and Dates of Puri Rath Yatra in 2025

Rath Yatra is celebrated with multiple rituals, which begin from Akshay Tritiya. Here are the rituals that complete the Rath Yatra festival:

• Akshay Tritiya: On this auspicious day, people in Puri, Odisha begin constructing the chariot with new wooden logs. They begin constructing three different chariots for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. In 2025, Akshay Tritiya was on 30^th April, when the preparation for Rath Yatra began.
• Snana Purnima: Snana Purnima falls on 11th June 2025. On this day, priests bathe the deities with 108 pots of water sourced from the Golden Well. After the bath, they dress the deities like elephants, a tradition called ‘Gaja Besha’.
• Anavasara: The deities are kept secluded for a period of 15 days after the bath. This auspicious period will be from 11^th June to 26^th June in 2025. Notably the temple remains closed during this period for the masses.
• Gundicha Marjana: This day is celebrated a day before Rath Yatra wherein the Gundicha Temple is cleaned and prepared for the Lords to occupy. Gundicha Marjana will be celebrated on 26^th June 2025.
• Rath Yatra: On 27^th June 2025, Rath Yatra will be celebrated, wherein the procession or Pahandi will be witnessed. The deities will be taken out on chariots to Gundicha Temple. Once the deities board the chariot, the King of Puri cleans the chariot with a golden broom termed ‘Chhera Panhara’. 
• Hera Panchami: Hera Panchami is the fifteenth day of the Lord's stay at Gundicha Temple. On 1^st July 2025, this occasion will be celebrated to mark Goddess Lakshmi’s visit to the temple.
• Sandhya Darshan: As the name suggests, this occasion is associated with visiting the deities at the Gundicha Temple in the evening. You can attend this ceremony on 3^rd July 2025 to seek blessings from the Lords.
• Bahuda Yatra: This is the return journey of Lord Jagannath from Gundicha Temple to Jagannath Temple. The return procession stops at Mausi Maa Temple to receive ‘Poda Pitha’. You can witness this ceremony on 5^th July 2025.
• Suna Besha: As a devotee, you can witness this ceremony on 6^th July 2025, wherein the deities are decorated with ornaments made of gold. 
• Adhara Pana: You can witness this occasion on 7th July 2025, wherein the deities are offered a sweet drink made of milk, sugar, cheese and spices. After serving, they break the pots as an act of gratitude.
• Niladri Bijay: On 8^th July 2025, the final event will be held wherein the deities will be placed back in the Jagannath Temple. This ceremony marks the end of the Rath Yatra in 2025. 

Note that on the actual day of celebration, which is Rath Yatra (27th June 2025), government offices, magisterial courts, banks and other financial institutions will remain closed, allowing masses to engage in cultural and religious activities in odisha. 

Thus, you must plan your bank visits accordingly to avoid delays and interruptions. However, if you are a Stable Money user, you do not need to worry about planning your financial activities around holidays. 

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Significance of Rath Yatra in 2025

Rath Yatra is a festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath in Odisha. Celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha according to the Odia calendar, it marks the journey of Lord Jagannath to his aunt’s home at the Gundicha Temple. The Lord, accompanied by other deities, travels on a large wooden chariot known as the Rath. People believe that pulling the chariot toward the Gundicha Temple holds great spiritual significance and is considered sacred for all participants.

This journey of Lord Jagannath is regarded as the greatest of all twelve journeys of the Lord. The Skanda Purana highlights that anyone who can watch the procession can get rid of his/ her sins. Lord Jagannath forgives the sins of individuals and bestows blessings on anyone who drags the chariot or even watches it.

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Why Will People Celebrate Rath Yatra in 2025?

Here are the reasons to celebrate Rath Yatra in 2025:

• This is an annual festival when Lord Jagannath visits his birthplace, Mathura. However, it is represented by the Gundicha Temple in Odisha.
• Rath Yatra marks Lord Jagannath’s meeting with his devotees.
• This festival is further celebrated to mark the life journey and quest for soul liberation.

Rath Yatra in 2025 will be observed on 27^th June, Friday. You can witness the festival by visiting Puri in Odisha. Further, you can drag the chariot to seek blessings from the Lord. However, note that banks and financial institutions will remain closed on this auspicious day. If you want to have 24/7 access to your investments, even on this holiday, download the Stable Money now. 

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