The Puri Rath Yatra for 2026 has started with the Pahandi ritual after the Rath Pratistha Puja.

The Puri Rath Yatra Pahandi ritual officially kicked off on Thursday, starting with the ceremonial procession of Lord Sudarshan, followed by the ongoing Pahandi of Lord Balabhadra. As the day progresses, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath will also be brought to their respective chariots in a specific order, as prescribed by tradition. The procession began after the servitors performed the traditional "Rath Pratistha Puja" of the three magnificent chariots, marking the official start of the deities' annual journey from the Srimandir to the Gundicha Temple.

It was a grand sight to see, as the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings made their way through the Grand Road of this seaside town, with nearly two lakh devotees already present to witness the annual Rath Yatra. Despite heavy rains, the devotees were determined to be a part of this auspicious occasion, and the administration had made extensive arrangements to ensure their safety and comfort. Elaborate security measures were put in place to prevent any mishaps, and steps were also taken to tackle the waterlogging along the route that the chariots would take.

As the eve of the iconic chariot festival brought a staggering 143.8 mm of rain, the weather department issued a warning for more downpour and thunderstorms on the day of the Rath Yatra. However, special arrangements were made to drain out the rainwater from the Grand Road and ensure a smooth procession for the devotees. At 4 pm, the devotees began pulling the chariots, after the customary chariot sweeping by Puri's titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, and the visit of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati.

This year, the chariots will be pulled along the 2.6 km route from the 12th-century shrine to the Shree Gundicha temple by the enthusiastic devotees. The temple town was under a multi-layered security cover, with around 13,000 personnel from the state police, central forces, Indian Navy, and Coast Guard deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees. Special attention was given to crowd control, traffic management, and emergency response, making sure that the Rath Yatra proceeds without any hiccups.

As the Odisha POST, the state's leading English daily, aptly puts it, this annual Rath Yatra is truly a sight to behold, a symbol of devotion and tradition, and a celebration of the rich culture and heritage of Odisha.