Puri: A day before the world-famous car festival, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday announced the ritual schedule for the annual Rath Yatra, which will be held in Puri on Thursday.
The day will begin with the Mangal Alati at 6 am, followed by a series of sacred rituals inside the temple before the deities are ceremonially taken to their respective chariots for the world-famous Rath Yatra.
Lakhs of devotees are expected to gather in the holy city of Puri to witness the grand festival, during which the deities will travel from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in their majestic wooden chariots. Elaborate security, crowd management and civic arrangements have been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual festival.
The Full Schedule:
- 6:00 am: Mangal Alati
- 6:10 am to 6:30 am: Mailam and Tadap Lagi
- 6:30 am: Rosha Homa
- 7:00 am: Abakasha
- 7:10 am: Surya Puja
- 7:30 am: Dwarapala Puja
- 7:30 am: Besha Sesha
- 8:00 am to 9:00 am: Gopal Ballav and Sakala Dhupa (Khechudi Bhoga)
- 9:00 am: Ratha Pratishtha
- 9:30 am: Pahandi begins
- 12:30 pm: Pahandi concludes
- 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm: Madanmohan Bije
- 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm: Chitalagi
- 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm: Besha Sesha
- 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm: Chhera Pahanra
- 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Chara Phita and Ghoda Sarathi Lagi
- 4:00 pm: Pulling of the chariots begins