Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018
The chariot festival of Puri on Ashadha Shukla Dvitiya.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:16
- Sunset18:51
- Fasting window (tithi)04:38 → 2018-07-15 · 01:01
- Parana (tithi ends)01:012018-07-15
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Jagannath Rath Yatra puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaJagannath Rath Yatra — Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated?
On the Dvitiya of the Shukla Paksha of Ashadha, at the start of the monsoon — the second day of the bright fortnight. For this year's date, see the date shown above.
Which deities ride in the Rath Yatra?
Three: Jagannath (a form of Krishna or Vishnu), his elder brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra. Each has a distinct chariot — Nandighosa, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana — built anew every year.
Why is pulling the chariot considered auspicious?
On this day the deities leave the sanctum and come out to the people, and anyone of any standing may pull the ropes and have their darshan in the open. Drawing the chariot, especially Jagannath's Nandighosa, is held to be a great blessing.
Where do the deities travel during the Rath Yatra?
From the Jagannath temple in Puri to the Gundicha temple, held to be their aunt's home or birthplace, where they stay some days before the return journey, the Bahuda Yatra.
Other major festivals in 2018
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2018
- Vasant Panchami — 22 January 2018
- Maha Shivaratri — 14 February 2018
- Holika Dahan — 1 March 2018
- Holi — 2 March 2018
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 18 March 2018
- Ram Navami — 25 March 2018
- Akshaya Tritiya — 18 April 2018
- Guru Purnima — 27 July 2018
- Nag Panchami — 15 August 2018
- Raksha Bandhan — 26 August 2018
- Krishna Janmashtami — 2 September 2018
- Hartalika Teej — 12 September 2018
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 13 September 2018
- Anant Chaturdashi — 24 September 2018
- Pitru Paksha begins — 26 September 2018
- Sharad Navratri begins — 10 October 2018
- Durga Ashtami — 17 October 2018
- Maha Navami — 18 October 2018
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 19 October 2018
- Karwa Chauth — 27 October 2018
- Dhanteras — 5 November 2018
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 6 November 2018
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 7 November 2018
- Govardhan Puja — 8 November 2018
- Bhai Dooj — 9 November 2018
- Chhath Puja — 13 November 2018
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 23 November 2018
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 23 November 2018
- Hindu Festivals 2018 →