One of the most anticipated festivals in the Orissa state as well as in the nation -Jagannath Rath Yatra is a yearly event. This is celebrated in the month of June or July. The Rath Yatra festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), his sister Goddess Subhadra and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra. It is also known as Gundicha Yatra, Chariot Festival, Dasavatara and Navadina Yatra.

Rath Yatra is held in Puri. It is considered that every year Lord Jagannath wishes to visit his birthplace Mathura for a few days to fulfill the desires of his devotees .This Yatra is organized each year from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple.

Worth mention here The festival is celebrated on the 2nd day of the Shukla Paksha, Ashadh month  per the traditional Oriya Calendar.

A huge Procession during Rath Yatra is held in which the wooden idols of the three deities, every time, are taken from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. These idols are placed in attractive chariots. During the procession chants and conches can be heard all around.

It is noted that before the Yatra begins, the idols are bathed with 109 buckets of water on the day of Snana Pornima then these are placed in isolation till the day of procession.