Rath Yatra: Pulling of chariots resumes amid chants of 'Jay Jagannath'

Officials said the 18th batch comprising 6,269 pilgrims including 1470 women, 25 children and 54 Sadhus departed in a convoy of 223 vehicles under tight security arrangements for the Baltal base camp. File | On July 19, the yatra was suspended as a precautionary measure following persistent rainfall and adverse weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir, especially along the twin routes — traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district — to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine.Officials said the 18th batch comprising 6,269 pilgrims including 1470 women, 25 children and 54 Sadhus departed in a convoy of 223 vehicles under tight security arrangements at about 2.40 a.m. for the Baltal base camp.No convoy was dispatched for the Pahalgam route, they said.The pilgrimage resumed after the weather improved and the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway became trafficable again following a three-day closure triggered by landslides and shooting stones at several locations along the Udhampur-Ramban stretch, officials mentioned.Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2, a day before the start of the annual pilgrimage in the valley.The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.So far, nearly four lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine, of which around 1.20 lakh pilgrims commenced their pilgrimage from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.Pilgrims opting for the Jammu base camp are transported to Kashmir in escorted convoys under elaborate security arrangements. Published - July 25, 2026 06:52 am IST

Hundreds of devotees offered prayers to Lord Jagannath Swamy and his divine siblings— Lord Balarama and the Goddess Subhadra Devi— on Friday in the return Rath Yatra which was organised from Domalamandiram to Sri Kanyakaparameswari temple in Vizianagaram.After performing special prayers, the priests and others brought the chariot to the Kanyakaparameswari temple as part of the return Rath Yatra. The devotees formed a long queue to offer prayers to the processional deities in the chariot.The police department deployed additional force to ensure hassle-free traffic en route. Endowments department officials said that 12-day festivities would end on July 25 with the deities returning to the Santapeta Jagannath Swamy temple on Saturday. Published - July 24, 2026 07:49 pm IST

Debris and boulders lie scattered on the Badrinath National Highway after a rain-triggered road collapse near Gulabkoti, disrupting traffic and affecting Char Dham Yatra pilgrims, in Chamoli district on July 2, 2026. | According to the officials, the pilgrimage, which was suspended on Monday (July 20, 2026), has been smoothly restarted following a necessary review of the travel routes.Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop said that the pilgrimage is being conducted in coordination with the administrations of all districts associated with the Yatra, the police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and relevant departments.He mentioned that the travel routes are being continuously monitored, and special vigilance is being maintained in vulnerable areas.Mr. Swaroop also appealed to pilgrims that if the route is temporarily obstructed at any point due to heavy rain, landslides, or other reasons, they should stay at safe locations or 'holding areas' designated by the administration and follow the instructions issued by the administration and police. He said that in such situations, the journey would proceed only after conditions return to normal.Emphasising that the safety of pilgrims is the top priority, Mr. Swaroop said that all departments have been instructed to keep a constant watch on weather conditions and travel routes so that immediate action can be taken if necessary. Published - July 21, 2026 05:47 pm IST

The administration has directed local authorities to ensure that no pilgrim is allowed to proceed in view of the inclement weather. File | “The Yatra has been halted as a precautionary measure in view of the red and orange alert warning of heavy rainfall,” they said. Landslips have hit the route of the yatra following heavy rainfall. The administration has directed local authorities to ensure that no pilgrim is allowed to proceed in view of the inclement weather. The Chardham Yatra to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri started in April this year. Published - July 20, 2026 12:15 pm IST

Jammu: Pilgrims proceed towards the holy cave shrine of Amarnath during the ongoing 'Amarnath Yatra', in Jammu, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (PTI Photo)(PTI07_18_2026_000311B) | “In view of the inclement weather forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shri Amarnathji Yatra shall remain temporarily suspended from both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes with effect from 19.07.2026 as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims,” Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg said in a statement.Public safetyWhile no onward movement will be permitted from the Baltal and Nunwan/Chandanwari base camps in the Kashmir region, no pilgrim convoys will be allowed to proceed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu.“Updates regarding the resumption of (Amarnath) Yatra shall be issued in due course of time after ensuring route safety and comprehensive assessment of the weather conditions", he said.So far, over 3.76 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.Confirming the suspension of Vaishno Devi Yatra, an official spokesperson in Jammu said, "In view of the inclement weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra shall remain temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims," the official said.He said the decision has been taken in the interest of public safety following forecasts indicating unfavourable weather conditions in the region. Devotees are advised to cooperate with the authorities and avoid undertaking the pilgrimage until further orders.The weatherman has predicted moderate to widespread rainfall from July 19 to 23 across Jammu and Kashmir.Pilgrims are requested to remain updated through official communication channels for the latest information regarding the resumption of the Vaishno Devi Yatra, the spokesperson said. Published - July 19, 2026 04:08 am IST

Shree Jagannath temple deities chariots are stand in front of the temple before starts their journey to their birth place on the occasion of nine days Rath Yatra festival at Puri. | None of the three chariots had reached the temple, around 2.6 km away from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple, due to a delay in the 'Pahandi' rituals on Thursday (July 16, 2026), they said. The deities remained on the chariots overnight. Amid chants of 'Jay Jagannath', lakhs of devotees started pulling the chariots of the trinity—Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath—this morning.In a video message, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, considered the first servitor of Lord Jagannath and sibling deities, said, “There is nothing wrong in chariot pulling being made on the day after the scheduled Rath Yatra. Many times, the chariots could not reach the destination on schedule, and they were pulled the next day. The chariot pulling was halted on Thursday (July 16, 2026), due to darkness.”Lord Balabhadra's 'Taladhwaja' Chariot had stopped at Market Chhak after covering around 700 metres on the Grand Road. Similarly, Devi Subhadra's 'Darpadalana' chariot halted at Marichikote Chhak after covering around 400 metres, while Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot was pulled only for a few yards and remained near Singhadwar (Lion's Gate) of the main temple, the officials said.While the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) estimated that 10-12 lakh devotees participated in the Rath Yatra, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) put the turnout at 8-9 lakh. "There was absolutely no delay in rituals, but the 'Pahandi' was delayed by over one hour. Lord Jagannath's idol did not move for about 40 minutes at the main gate, due to which the 'Pahandi' was delayed," SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee told reporters.Mr. Padhee said the sibling deities would stay on the chariots on Friday (July 17, 2026) night, while the entry procession into the Gundicha Temple, considered the birthplace of the sibling deities, would be held on Saturday (July 18, 2026), he added. Despite adverse weather conditions, all rituals were completed on time, but the movement of Lord Jagannath's idol was delayed by 40 minutes, affecting the chariot pulling schedule, another temple administration official said.On the absence of the traditional 'Tahika' (ornate floral crown) during Lord Jagannath's 'Pahandi' ritual, Mr. Padhee said it was removed as it became wet and heavy due to rain. The annual Rath Yatra is held on the second day of the Odia month of 'Ashadha Shukla Tithi' and is the only occasion when the sibling deities are taken out from the 'Ratna Sinhasana', the bejewelled throne of the temple.The chariot pulling had begun on Thursday (July 16, 2026) after the ceremonial 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping of chariots) by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and the visit of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, a temple official said.Amid chants of 'Hari Bol', beating of cymbals and blowing of trumpets and conch shells, a large number of devotees witnessed the festival as the rain subsided. Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirit of devotees, who were seen dancing and celebrating on the Grand Road.Special arrangements were made to drain rainwater from the Grand Road and facilitate the procession, as devotees were pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the 12th-century shrine to the Gundicha Temple. Published - July 17, 2026 01:58 pm IST