Rathayatra, chariot festival in Hinduism observed by taking an image (murti) of a Hindu deity in a procession (Sanskrit: yatra) through the streets around the temple, or from one temple to another, in a wooden chariot (ratha). In some instances, multiple murtis are paraded in the same procession. The most famous Rathayatra festival honors the god Jagannatha (Vishnu in the avatar of Krishna) and takes place annually in Puri in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. The chariots at these festivals can be small and simple or, as in the Puri festival, massive and ornate constructions, requiring many devotees to pull these chariots of the gods.

Puri Rath Yatra 2025

Rathayatra, chariot festival in Hinduism observed by taking an image (murti) of a Hindu deity in a procession (Sanskrit: yatra) through the streets around the temple, or from one temple to another, in a wooden chariot (ratha). In some instances, multiple murtis are paraded in the same procession. The most famous Rathayatra festival honors the god Jagannatha (Vishnu in the avatar of Krishna) and takes place annually in Puri in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. The chariots at these festivals can be small and simple or, as in the Puri festival, massive and ornate constructions, requiring many devotees to pull these chariots of the gods.