Puri Prepares for Grand Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 Amid New Regulations and Architectural Preservation Initiatives

The sacred city of Puri is gearing up for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in 2025, scheduled to commence on June 27, 2025, as the Odisha government implements significant regulatory changes and preservation measures to maintain the spiritual sanctity of one of India’s four sacred Char Dhams.

In a landmark decision aimed at preserving the religious atmosphere around the Jagannath Temple, the state government of Odisha has announced comprehensive restrictions on alcohol sales and non-vegetarian food establishments within the temple vicinity. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced that the sale and purchase of alcohol will be prohibited within a 2-kilometer radius of the temple, while non-vegetarian food operations will be banned within a 3-kilometer radius.

“Puri is one of the sacred dhams in the country. We aim to develop Puri into a renowned pilgrimage destination. Liquor shops and bars will not be allowed to operate within a 3-kilometer radius of the temple. The Bada Danda (Grand Road) will be free from non-vegetarian food shops. Our objective is to maintain the spiritual atmosphere around the temple,” stated Minister Harichandan.

According to senior officials quoted in Times of India reports, the new regulations will be implemented in phases to ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders, with shopkeepers being consulted before the final decision is implemented. Additionally, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has submitted a proposal to the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department requesting uniform architectural designs for the structures surrounding both the Jagannath and Gundicha temples. This initiative aims to safeguard the architectural legacy and visual character of the temple complex, given its immense cultural and spiritual significance.

SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee emphasized the importance of preserving the temple’s ambience and architectural heritage through this systematic approach to urban planning around the sacred sites.

The nine-day festival preparations began on April 30, 2025, with Akshaya Tritiya marking the commencement of chariot construction. The elaborate festival schedule includes several significant rituals:

June 11 witnessed Snana Purnima, a ritual of bathing the deities with 108 pots of holy water in the grand Snana Yatra ceremony. Following this ritual, the deities enter 15 days of isolation called Anavasara (June 13-26), during which they are believed to recover from illness.

June 26 marks Gundicha Marjana, the ceremonial cleaning of Gundicha Temple in preparation for the arrival of the deities. The temple, located 3 kilometers from the main shrine, is considered the ancestral home of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra (his brother), and Goddess Subhadra (his sister).

June 27 begins the main Rath Yatra procession with the Pahandi ritual, where the sacred idols are ceremonially transferred from the Jagannath Temple to their respective chariots. The newly constructed chariots, made annually from Daru wood, include Nandighosa (Lord Jagannath’s chariot with 16 wheels, 44.5 feet tall), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra’s chariot with 14 wheels, 43.3 feet tall), and Darpadalana (Goddess Subhadra’s chariot with 14 wheels, 42.3 feet tall).

The festival continues with the Hera Panchami ritual on July 1, celebrating Goddess Lakshmi’s visit to Gundicha Temple, followed by Sandhya Darshan on July 3 for devotees to view the deities at Gundicha Temple.

July 5 concludes the main celebration with the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the deities to the Jagannath Temple. Post-festival rituals include Suna Besha on July 6, where Lord Jagannath is adorned with gold ornaments, and Andhara Pana on July 7, offering sweet drinks to the deity before the final Niladri Bijay ritual returns the idols to the temple sanctum.

Authorities have issued advisories for devotees planning to attend this year’s Rath Yatra, emphasizing the expectation of large crowds and the need for proper planning. The festival, deeply rooted in the belief that Lord Jagannath emerges from the temple premises to address devotees’ problems, attracts millions of pilgrims annually. The comprehensive measures undertaken by the Odisha government reflect a balanced approach toward preserving religious traditions while ensuring systematic development of Puri as a premier pilgrimage destination in India's spiritual tourism circuit. Mark your calendar, the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 date of celebration is the 27th of June.