Puri Events

Puri is a city of large spirit and even larger celebrations, lasting from 3 days to over a week at a time. The famed, highly important and religious Rath Yatra is a glimpse at how gigantic the celebrations can get. This 9-day festival is held in June/July, and consists of a colossal performance and procession of three chariots (taking months to create) carrying special-made wooden idols of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra down Grand Road. This gathering represents Lord Jagannath’s legendary returned to earth – the chariots all proceed from the temple to his countryside palace, creating a large, cheering crowd and parade. On the 9^th day of celebration, the deities are returned to their original temple during a ceremony recognized as Bahuda Yatra or the “Return Festival,” where the deities are then offered sweets and gold ornaments. The rich, enthusiastic tradition is present also in the popular Snana Yatra festival, another procession held for the deities, where pots of water are poured on them in blessing and respect by devotees. Directly after this event is the Anavasara Festival, where delicious, fruity juices are prepared, representing the fruit juice medicine that was offered to Lord Jagannath when he suffered from a fever. For a more modern, to-date kind of celebration, don’t miss out on the Puri Beach Festival, a great way to picnic by the scenic water, interact with locals and make new friends, enjoy a fashion show, sand art, and much more.