Bahuda Yatra 2025: Date, time, rituals, and spiritual significance of Lord Jagannath’s return journey

As the grand Rath Yatra celebrations approach their concluding phase, all eyes now turn to Bahuda Yatra, the sacred return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra from the Gundicha Temple back to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. Scheduled for July 5, 2025, this ritual-rich event marks the final leg of Odisha’s most revered chariot festival.

After spending seven days at the Gundicha Temple, the deities will embark on their homeward journey atop their massive wooden chariots: Nandighosha (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), and Darpadalan (Subhadra). Known as Bahuda Yatra, this occasion mirrors the grandeur of the initial Rath Yatra but carries an added emotional significance, as it symbolizes the reunion of the divine siblings with their original abode.

Dakshina Moda, the ritual of turning the chariots southward, signifies the readiness for Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the deities to the Shree Jagannath Temple. This spiritually significant act reorients the chariots toward their home, symbolizing the divine transition back to their sanctum. The event unfolds with devotional fervor—accompanied by sacred chants, bhajans, the ringing of bells, and the active involvement of Bhoi servitors, Maharana sevaks, and other temple authorities.

Bahuda Yatra 2025 Schedule at a Glance

Ritual/Event	Date
Hera Panchami	July 1, 2025
Dakshina Moda	July 2–3, 2025
Sandhya Darshan	July 4, 2025
Bahuda Yatra	July 5, 2025

Cultural and Devotional Significance

For lakhs of devotees, pulling the chariots during Bahuda Yatra is considered an act of immense spiritual merit. The return journey is also seen as the reaffirmation of divine balance, with the deities returning to their consort Lakshmi and resuming their cosmic duties.

The celebration features traditional Odissi music, chants, martial arts displays, and spiritual fervor that transform the temple town into a sea of devotion.