Traditionally a single-day event, this year's Rath Yatra expands to two days due to special celestial configurations.
Some rituals, including 'Nabajouban Darshan' and 'Netra Utsav', which usually span several days, will be condensed into a single day on July 7
The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra will be ceremonially moved from the Lion's Gate of the temple to the Gundicha temple
Rituals like 'Nabajouban Darshan', marking the deities' emergence after a 15-day ritual quarantine, and 'Netra Utsav', the painting of deity eyeballs, are integral to the event
Commencing at 11 am on July 7, the 'Pahandi' ritual involves the dignified procession of the deities down the 22 steps known as 'Baisi Pahacha'
Traditional chants and sounds of gongs, conches, and cymbals fill the air as the deities are prepared for their chariot journey
Hundreds of thousands of devotees gather in Puri for this auspicious occasion, witnessing the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and siblings amid festive fervor