Devotees Celebrate Jagannath Rath Yatra in Sion, Sakinaka, and Babulnath
Thousands of devotees gathered in Sion, Sakinaka, and near the Babulnath Temple in Mumbai on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to celebrate the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra with grand religious processions. The festivities, which commenced around 4 PM, brought together people of all generations to mark the sacred festival.
In Sion, one of the city's prominent Rath Yatra processions was organised by the Shree Jagannath Mandir. The procession commenced from the Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, located at the Jagannath Mandir in Sion. Thousands of devotees assembled at the starting point to seek the blessings of the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. From there, the yatra passed through several routes across the local area.
Meanwhile, Sakinaka also witnessed a grand celebration of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. A large number of local devotees gathered at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Sakinaka to participate in the procession, displaying deep reverence, devotion, and enthusiasm.
Another Rath Yatra was carried out near Mumbai's Babulnath Temple on the same day. Though this particular procession was modest in scale compared to the others, the yatra reflected deep faith and devotion among those who took part.
Across all the locations, devotion to Lord Jagannath transcended age. People from all generations, including youngsters, adults, and the elderly, came together to participate in the celebrations. Devotees were seen joining the processions, singing devotional hymns, and chanting praises of the Lord, which created an atmosphere of faith, unity, and spiritual fervour.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is among the most revered festivals dedicated to Lord Jagannath, marking the annual ceremonial journey of the deities from their temple to the Gundicha Temple. While Puri in Odisha hosts the most iconic celebrations, drawing lakhs of devotees each year, the festival is also observed with great devotion in Mumbai, where the Odia community and devotees from across the city have upheld the tradition for years.
