# Jagannath's Chariots Roll Out in Puri as the Deity Sets Off to Visit His Aunt

> Lord Jagannath's chariot procession began in Puri on July 16, 2026, with the deity, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra heading to the Gundicha temple for a seven-day stay. Here is the mythology and religious significance behind the annual Rath Yatra.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Religion · **Published:** 2026-07-16 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/religion/puri-men-rathon-para-savara-hokara-mausi-ke-ghara-ravana-hue-bhagavana-jagannath-janie-isake-pichhe-ki-pauranika-kahani-8047 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Jagannath Rath Yatra, Puri Rath Yatra 2026, Lord Jagannath, Gundicha Temple, Rath Yatra Significance, Balabhadra Subhadra

Lord Jagannath's grand chariot procession, one of Hinduism's most celebrated religious journeys, began in Puri on July 16, 2026. On the morning of July 16, the deity stepped out of the temple's sanctum along with elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, and the three siblings mounted their towering wooden chariots to set off for the temple of their aunt, Maa Gundicha. Lord Jagannath will stay at his aunt's temple for seven days before returning to the main shrine. Massive crowds have gathered for the event, with devotees arriving not just from across India but from several countries abroad to witness and take part in the procession. According to belief, pulling the ropes attached to the chariots, or even touching them, is considered an act that brings spiritual merit, which is why devotees push through the crowds each year for even a brief chance to hold the ropes as the chariots are pulled through the streets of Puri.

## The Legends Behind the Chariot Festival
The Rath Yatra formally begins every year on the second day, Dwitiya, of the bright fortnight, Shukla Paksha, of the Hindu month of Ashadh, a date that falls during the monsoon season, though preparations for the event actually start much earlier, from Basant Panchami. Two separate legends explain the origins of the festival, according to religious texts.

The first legend holds that Devi Subhadra once expressed a wish to her two brothers, Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra, to tour the city. The three siblings agreed and set out riding three separate chariots. That outing happened to fall on the Dwitiya of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadh, and this is why the Rath Yatra is observed on the same date every year since.

The second legend is tied to the origin of the Gundicha temple and explains why Queen Gundicha came to be known as Lord Jagannath's aunt. It is said that King Indradyumna travelled to Brahmalok to bring Brahma to consecrate the Jagannath Puri temple. While he was away, his wife, Queen Gundicha, took a vow that she would continue performing penance until her husband returned with Brahma. Centuries passed before King Indradyumna finally returned with Brahma, and the consecration ceremony was completed, followed by the temple's formal inauguration. Lord Jagannath then told Gundicha Devi that she had waited for him the way a mother would, and declared that she was therefore like a mother to him, which is how she came to be addressed as his mausi, or aunt. The site where Gundicha performed her penance is where the Gundicha temple stands today. Religious belief also holds that Lord Jagannath granted her a boon, that the place of her penance would be recognised as a Devi Peeth, and that whenever the three siblings travelled to visit her, the world would come to know that journey as the Rath Yatra. Despite their differences, both legends describe the same central idea, that the Rath Yatra is at heart a family visit between three siblings and their aunt, which is what gives a festival attended by enormous crowds its deeply personal meaning.

## Why the Yatra Is Considered So Significant
According to religious belief, anyone who takes part in the Rath Yatra and pulls the chariot earns spiritual merit equal to performing 100 yajnas, a yajna being one of the great Vedic fire rituals, which shows just how much spiritual weight this single act of pulling the chariot is believed to carry. Devotees who join the procession are also believed to receive happiness and prosperity in their lives through Lord Jagannath's blessings. For those seeking spiritual growth, participating in the Rath Yatra is said to bestow supreme knowledge, and this belief is one of the reasons the festival attracts pilgrims focused on devotion and self growth, in addition to those drawn by the sheer spectacle of the chariots.

## Three Siblings, Three Chariots
During the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath rides a chariot called Nandighosh, which is yellow and red in colour. His elder brother Balabhadra rides on a chariot named Taladhwaja, which is red. Their sister Subhadra travels on a chariot called Darpadalan, which is black and red in colour.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** Devotees across the country planning to visit Puri should know Lord Jagannath will remain at the Gundicha temple for seven days from July 16, so darshan and rituals at the main temple will follow this schedule.
- **In Puri, Odisha:** With large crowds, including visitors from abroad, gathering for the procession, residents and pilgrims in Puri can expect heavy footfall and crowding along the chariot route over the coming days.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When did the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 begin?
The Rath Yatra in Puri began on July 16, 2026.

### 2. How many days does Lord Jagannath stay at his aunt's temple?
Lord Jagannath stays at his aunt Maa Gundicha's temple for seven days.

### 3. Why is Queen Gundicha called Lord Jagannath's aunt?
Queen Gundicha is believed to have performed penance like a mother, waiting for King Indradyumna to return with Brahma, so Lord Jagannath declared her like a mother and she came to be called his mausi, or aunt.

### 4. Why is Rath Yatra always held on the Dwitiya of Ashadh Shukla Paksha?
Legend says that when Subhadra, Jagannath and Balabhadra first went on their city tour riding three chariots, that day happened to be the Dwitiya of Ashadh Shukla Paksha, and the festival has been observed on that date ever since.

### 5. What are the names and colours of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra's chariots?
Lord Jagannath's chariot is Nandighosh, coloured yellow and red; Balabhadra's chariot is Taladhwaja, coloured red; and Subhadra's chariot is Darpadalan, coloured black and red.

### 6. What is the significance of pulling the chariot's ropes during Rath Yatra?
Belief holds that a devotee who pulls or even touches the chariot's ropes earns spiritual merit equal to performing 100 yajnas.

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