Mumbai to Celebrate Jagannath Rath Yatra From Andheri West to Juhu on July 16
Thousands of devotees are expected to gather in Mumbai on July 16, 2026, for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, which will commence from New Link Road in Andheri West and proceed to ISKCON Juhu. The grand chariot festival, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, will bring together spiritual organizations and residents from across Maharashtra to celebrate one of Hinduism's most significant festivals.
The Mumbai procession is organized by several Jagannath temples and spiritual organizations across the city, including the ISKCON temples. The grand celebrations are set to feature devotional singing, bhajans, kirtans, cultural performances, and the ceremonial pulling of beautifully decorated wooden chariots.
The procession will traverse several significant roads as it makes its way from Andheri West to Juhu. The elaborately designed wooden chariots, embellished with vibrant flowers and cultural patterns, will be accompanied by spiritual music, dancing devotees, and various artistic displays.
A central tradition of the festival is the ceremonial pulling of the chariots. Participation in this ritual is believed to confer blessings and spiritual benefits to the devotees. During the procession, participants also plan to distribute prasadam and snacks to visitors and devotees along the route.
The Mumbai event is inspired by the historic Jagannath Rath Yatra of Puri in Odisha, which is one of the largest chariot festivals celebrated in Hinduism. According to scriptural texts including the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samhita, the festival marks the occasion when Lord Jagannath, believed to be a form of Lord Vishnu, undertook a journey around the city on a chariot. He stayed at his aunt's abode for a week along with his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra.
Since ancient times, the festival has been observed on the second day of the bright half of the Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar, with devotees flooding the streets to pull the chariot carrying the idols of the deities.
