The Rath yatra festival has been traditionally celebrated annually in Jagannath Puri, Orrisa, where Lord Jagannath along with His sister Subhadra and elder brother Baladeva paraded through the streets of the city. This practice and festival still takes place in Puri and since the late sixties all over the world. This year Ratha Yatra festival in Jagannath Puri is on 16 Jul 2026. This year ISKCON Juhu is celebrating the Rath Yatra on 18 Jul 2026.
The pulling of Rath cart during the Rath yatra procession by the devotees symbolizes the attempt of the residents of Vrindavan, especially the cowherd boys and girls, to bring Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra back to Vrindavan, the holy dhama near Mathura, UP from Kurushetra.
In Narad Purana, Lord Narayan tells Laximi that a person who sees the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra on chariot will be liberated from birth, death and easily going back to Vaikuntha, the Abode of Lord Vishnu.
Bhagavad Gita 2.40
In this endeavour of offering service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, you get eternal credit, and even a little service offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa can protect one from the greatest type of fear.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.11.11
While Kṛṣṇa was going to the fruit vendor very hastily, most of the grains He was holding fell. Nonetheless, the fruit vendor filled Kṛṣṇa’s hands with fruits, and her fruit basket was immediately filled with jewels and gold.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.22.35
It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with one’s life, wealth, intelligence and words.