Annual Rath Yatra celebrated with religious fervor across Vizag

Devotees throng the streets as decorated chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Devi Subhadra are pulled through the city during the 18th annual Rath Yatra organized by ISKCON in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. | Photo credit: KR DEEPAK

The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was celebrated with religious fervor at several places across the city on Thursday, coinciding with the world famous festival at Puri in Odisha. Thousands of devotees pulled chariots chanting Vedic hymns, bhajans and ‘Hari Nama Sankirtana’.

At Sri Jagannath Swamy Devasthanam on Town Kotha Road, the Rath Yatra was flagged off by Visakhapatnam South MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas who offered special prayers before the procession proceeded to Turner Choultry. The main chariot was accompanied by chariots of Lord Jagannath from Ember Mannar Swamy and Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy temples. Temple Executive Director T. Rajagopal Reddy said an exhibition on ‘Dashavataras’ would be held from July 17 to 25 and the Bahuda Yatra would be celebrated on July 26. Visakhapatnam West MLA PGVR Naidu (Ganababu) visited the temple and offered prayers. Temple Trust Board Chairperson Surada Raj Kumar, trustees and priests participated in the arrangements.

Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj (USS) took out its Rath Yatra from the Jagannath Temple Complex to Gundicha Ghar near Shantiashram in Lawson’s Bay Colony where the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will remain till July 24 when the Bahuda Yatra will be held. Samaj President JK Nayak performed the ceremonial sweeping ritual and a special attraction was a folk dance troupe from Ganjam district of Odisha. General Secretary USS Satyabrata Dwibedy urged the devotees to have darshan of the deities at Gundicha Ghar.

ISKCON Visakhapatnam conducted its 18th annual Rath Yatra with three chariots equipped with 37 feet mechanized canopies brought from Pipili in Odisha. The procession started at 4 pm from Mahatma Gandhi statue and passed through Jagadamba Junction and Waltair Main Road before ending at Gurajada Kalakshetram, Siripuram where more than 501 types of preparations were made and distributed as ‘Mahaprasadam’. About 500 students performed voluntary service.

The Hare Krishna movement organized its Rath Yatra from IIAM College, MVP Colony which was flagged off by its President Nishkinchana Bhakta Dasa, Visakhapatnam East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi. The procession went along Beach Road and Appughar before returning to the college, followed by a Bharatanatyam performance and distribution of ‘Mahaprasadam’.

Published – 17 Jul 2026 0:41 AM IST