Ratha Yatra 2026
Ratha Yatra 2026 falls on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Date and Panchanga Basis
- Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026 (also observed as Jagannath Rath Yatra)
- Rule: Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra roll at Puri.
- Reckoning: amanta lunar months; date fixed by the tithi prevailing at sunrise (udaya tithi).
This date is computed from sidereal Sun and Moon positions (Swiss-precision Meeus ephemeris, Lahiri ayanamsa), not copied from a stored calendar. Regional almanacs that apply a different local rule can occasionally differ by one day; where a festival anchors to a specific hour, such as midnight for Janmashtami or midday for Ganesh Chaturthi, the matching classical rule is used.
Significance
Ratha Yatra takes the deities of Puri out of the sanctum and onto the public road on the Ashadha bright second. It is among the oldest continuously observed processional festivals in the world.
Timing Your Observance
A festival date names the day; a muhurta names the hour. For puja timing on July 16, consult the day's panchanga: the prevailing tithi and nakshatra, the choghadiya windows, and the Rahu Kaal period to avoid. The daily panchang, choghadiya timings, and Rahu Kaal calculator cover this for your city, and the birth chart calculator shows how the day's sky sits against your own chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ratha Yatra in 2026?
Ratha Yatra 2026 falls on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra roll at Puri.
How is the Ratha Yatra date decided?
The date follows the tithi prevailing at sunrise (udaya tithi) in amanta lunar-month reckoning. This page computes it from sidereal Sun and Moon longitudes (Lahiri ayanamsa) rather than a stored table.
When is Ratha Yatra in 2027?
Ratha Yatra 2027 falls on Monday, July 5, 2027.