The sacred preparations for Lord Jagannath’s world-famous Rath Yatra commenced in Odisha’s holy city of Puri with the performance of the traditional Ratha Katha Anukula ritual on the auspicious occasion of Saraswati Puja (Basant Panchami). This important ceremony formally marks the beginning of the construction of the three grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.

The inaugural ritual, known as Adya Parva, was conducted by the priests of Shree Jagannath Temple in the presence of temple officials, district administration and servitors traditionally associated with chariot construction. As part of the sacred proceedings, the priests offered prayers to Goddess Saraswati and consecrated three holy logs using Panchamruta, following age-old customs and scriptural traditions. The rituals were performed in front of the office of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri.

The three consecrated logs will be used for the construction of the iconic chariots—Nandighosa, the chariot of Lord Jagannath; Taladhwaja, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra; and Darpadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. The commencement of this ritual signifies the spiritual beginning of the annual Rath Yatra, one of the most revered festivals in India that draws millions of devotees from across the world.

The ceremony was attended by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Puri District Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, and Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh, along with senior officials and sevayats associated with the chariot-making tradition. On the occasion, Padhee sought the divine blessings of Lord Jagannath for the smooth, peaceful, and successful conduct of Rath Yatra 2026. He also expressed confidence that with the collective cooperation of the temple administration, district authorities, servitors, and devotees, the grand festival would be conducted in accordance with tradition and spiritual discipline.

With the completion of Ratha Katha Anukula, the spiritual atmosphere in Puri has once again come alive, marking the beginning of months-long preparations leading up to the divine journey of the Lords on their majestic chariots during Rath Yatra.