Grand Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival in Pune on Sunday

Organized by ISKCON Pune; Over 1 Lakh Devotees to Receive Mahaprasad This Year

Pune – The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Pune, is organizing the grand Jagannath Rath Yatra on Sunday, June 29, starting at 1 PM from S.P. College, Tilak Road. Inspired by the world-famous Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri in Odisha, this celebration brings Lord Jagannath’s divine presence to the streets of Pune. On the day of the Yatra, the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev, and Devi Subhadra from ISKCON’s Katraj-Kondhwa temple will be specially brought out on a beautifully decorated chariot for public darshan, informed ISKCON spokesperson Janardan Chitode during a press conference.

Present at the press meet were Sanjay Bhosale (Vice President, ISKCON Temple), Anantgop Prabhu (Yatra Coordinator), and Prasad Karkhanis (Head of Public Relations).

The Rath Yatra will be inaugurated at 12 PM in the S.P. College grounds by HH Lokanath Swami, senior monk of ISKCON, along with Radheshyam Prabhu, President of ISKCON Pune. Dignitaries attending include MP Medha Kulkarni, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, MLAs Hemant Rasane, Sunil Kamble, Yogesh Tilekar, and other elected officials, civic authorities, and notable personalities from the social, political, academic, and cultural spheres.

The Rath Yatra begins at 1 PM after a ceremonial aarti of the deities. The chariot will proceed through various points in the city including:
S.P. College, Abhinav College Chowk, Bajirao Road, Shanipar Chowk, Nagarkar Talim Chowk, Laxmi Road, Shagun Chowk, Ramanbag School, Omkareshwar Temple, Balgandharva Rangmandir, Jangli Maharaj Road, Khandujibaba Chowk, Tilak Chowk, and back to S.P. College via Tilak Road.

The Rath Yatra honors the tradition where Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi come out to bless and interact with the people. While millions travel to Puri to witness this spectacle, ISKCON’s founder Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada started Rath Yatras across the globe so that all devotees can receive Lord Jagannath’s mercy regardless of location.

The chariot will stand 20 feet tall, adorned with colorful fabric and fresh flowers. Devotees and ISKCON members will pull the chariot by hand, as per tradition. Following the conclusion of the Yatra, the deities will be offered the traditional Chappan Bhog (56 items), followed by aarti.

More than 20,000 devotees are expected to actively participate in the Yatra. The celebration will feature traditional musical performances from regions like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bengal, and Odisha, with constant chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and jubilant cries of Jai Jagannath, Jai Baldev, Jai Subhadra.

Mahaprasad will be served to approximately 20,000 devotees at the start and end of the Yatra in the S.P. College grounds. Additionally, 1 lakh packets of prasadam will be distributed throughout the Rath Yatra route.

Evening festivities begin at 7 PM, featuring aarti, darshan, and Mahaprasad. ISKCON Pune’s President Radheshyam Prabhu appealed to all citizens to take part in this divine festival and receive the mercy of Lord Jagannath. ISKCON has temples in Pune at Katraj-Kondhwa Road, Camp, and Nigdi.