When is Rath Yatra 2025? Date, ritual timings, ISKCON’s celebration plans, and full schedule of Lord Jagannath’s festival

Preparations are in full swing for the Rath Yatra 2025, one of India’s most celebrated and sacred festivals. Also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, this grand annual event in Puri, Odisha draws lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad.

Rath Yatra 2025 Date & Time

According to Drik Panchang, this year’s Rath Yatra will take place on Friday, 27 June 2025. The grand procession is held every year on the Dwitiya Tithi (second day) of the Shukla Paksha in the Ashadha month of the Hindu calendar.

• Dwitiya Tithi begins: 1:24 PM on 26 June 2025
• Dwitiya Tithi ends: 11:19 AM on 27 June 2025

The festival celebrates Lord Jagannath’s journey to his aunt’s temple, Gundicha Temple, along with his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. As mentioned in the Skanda Purana, it is believed that Shree Hari, the Supreme Lord, fulfils his promise by riding his chariot to Gundicha each year.

Nine-Day Festival Schedule

As per the schedule, the celebrations will stretch across nine days:

• Anavasara – Began on 13 June, ends on 26 June
• Gundicha Marjana – 26 June 2025
• Rath Yatra – 27 June 2025
• Hera Panchami – 1 July 2025
• Bahuda Yatra – 4 July 2025
• Suna Besha – 5 July 2025
• Niladri Bijay – 5 July 2025

The final day, Niladri Bijay, marks the return of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to the main temple.

ISKCON Rath Yatra on 29 June

As reported by TOI, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Prayagraj will hold its Rath Yatra on Sunday, 29 June 2025. The chariot procession will begin at 4:00 PM from Hira Halwai Crossing and conclude at KP Ground, passing through Subhash Chauraha and Hanuman Mandir.

ISKCON Prayagraj temple president Achyuta Mohan Das told TOI, “We’re holding the Rath Yatra on Sunday to allow more people to attend and receive the blessings.”

Rath Yatra in Scotland

Followers of Lord Krishna recently celebrated Rath Yatra in Scotland too. The Indian Embassy in Scotland posted on X that the Vice Consul joined ISKCON’s Rath Yatra in Edinburgh, where even the Lord Provost of Edinburgh took part in the tradition of sweeping the path before the chariot, a symbolic act of humility and devotion.