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Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area
Jagannath Ratha Yatra
Dates for the Bay Area
- Wednesday, 15 July 2026Major temple festival
- Monday, 5 July 2027Major temple festivalnext
Why it matters
The great chariot festival of Puri brings Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra out from the temple for a public journey, symbolizing divine accessibility to all.
The story behind it
The deities travel in massive chariots toward the Gundicha Temple; the cycle continues through Hera Panchami, Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha and Niladri Bije.
Prayers and worship
Darshan, kirtan, Jagannath/Krishna nama-japa, Jagannath Ashtakam, arati and reverent participation in chariot processions are common.
Fasting and devotional customs
Fasting and household customs vary; follow the temple or family tradition for this observance.
What is typically offered
Flowers, tulsi, fruit, lamps and mahaprasad.
Visiting a temple that day
At large processions, follow crowd-control instructions and never approach moving chariot wheels or ropes except where organizers explicitly permit participation.
Spiritual themes
Divine accessibility, community, pilgrimage and devotion.
Request this pooja
Sri Kumar Gurukkal performs Jagannath Ratha Yatra observances at your home, at a temple, or with family joining remotely.
Request a pooja Add 5 Jul 2027 to calendarKeep this in your calendar
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Subscribe to the festival calendar Share on WhatsAppThis date was validated against a location-specific Northern-California Panchāṅgam source. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →