55th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra 2026 (Bahuda Yatra): My Divine Experience at Gundicha Temple

Devotees were happy yet overwhelmed with emotion during the 55th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra, also known as Bahuda Yatra, which was celebrated on 24th July. They were happy because Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi were now returning to the 3C Albert Road Temple, and a little emotional too because the Lord was leaving the Gundicha Temple, where He had stayed for seven days, giving great pleasure to the devotees.

Ulta Rath Yatra, also known as Bahuda Yatra, marks the return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi from the Gundicha Temple to Their main temple.

At Gundicha, which is compared to Vrindavan, devotees had many opportunities to serve Lord Jagannath.

Seven Blissful Days at Gundicha Temple

On 16th July 2026, They came from the 3C Albert Road, Minto Park Temple, riding majestically on chariots to the Gundicha Temple. From the evening of 16th July to the morning of 24th July, They stayed at the Gundicha Temple. During Their stay, They daily gave Their divine darshan and blessings to the devotees.

It was a festive atmosphere at the Gundicha Temple. Thousands of Jagannath’s lovers came daily and felt blessed. Several devotees were engaged in serving the Lord.

Serving Lord Jagannath as a Pujari

This year too, I was fortunate to get pujari (temple priest) service at the Gundicha Temple. It was possible only because of the mercy of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, Subhadra Devi, Srila Prabhupada, my spiritual master, HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaja, and the devotees.

My service was from 10 a.m. till the Rajbhoga offering, i.e., till noon. The service provided me with an opportunity to be near the altar. From there, I could see the beautiful faces of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi closely and touch Their lotus feet.

During the service, I realized how much devotion people have for Lord Jagannath.

From early morning onwards, devotees were bringing many items to offer to the Lord. Some had cooked bhoga for the Lord at their homes and were carrying it in utensils and tiffin boxes; some had brought sweets; some were carrying fresh fruits; many were bringing flowers, flower garlands, and tulasi leaves for Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi.

By the time I offered the food items brought by one group of devotees, another group would already be waiting with their bhoga offerings.

Many congregation devotees had prepared 56 bhoga offerings for the Lord. The altar would be filled with bhoga items. As soon as one set of 56 bhoga offerings was offered, another set would arrive. Devotees were standing in a queue to make their offerings to the Lord.

At 12 noon, we were supposed to offer Rajbhoga to the Lord. I was asked to finish the offerings quickly and clean the altar so that Rajbhoga could be offered. Since so many devotees were coming to offer food and other sacred items to the Lord, Rajbhoga could not be offered exactly at 12 noon on any of the seven days. But no one complained. The Lord looked happy to see so many devotees with so many offerings.

One day, there were so many Rajbhoga items in large quantities that huge sets of utensils containing food were placed directly on the altar. After Rajbhoga, there was arati of the Lord, in which everyone reverentially participated. Throughout the day, devotees took darshan of the Lord and chanted the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Daily Festival Programmes at Gundicha Temple

Apart from the worship inside the temple, many devotional activities were organized throughout the festival. Many attractive Krishna conscious stalls were put up for children, youths, and congregation devotees. There was a prasadam stall and the Gauranga Food Court too. In the evening, there were many cultural programmes.

Every day, the programme would begin at 5 a.m. with Mangala Arati. After Mangala Arati, devotees would sit and chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. At 8 a.m., there was Guru Puja and Darshan Arati, followed by the Srimad Bhagavatam class from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., breakfast prasadam was served to everyone.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there was Bhagavata Kathamrita, in which devotees heard the pastimes of Krishna, Lord Jagannath, and Srila Prabhupada from different distinguished speakers, followed by lunch prasadam. The evening programme began at 4 p.m. Thousands of people visited the pandal daily, especially during the evening hours.

The Beginning of the 55th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra (Bahuda Yatra)

After seven wonderful days of serving and taking darshan of the Lord at Gundicha Temple, the time finally came for His return journey. Devotees felt a little sad when the day came for the Lord to leave the Gundicha Temple. But there was also eagerness to see the Lord again on the chariot and pull the divine ropes of the chariot.

On 24th July morning, a large number of devotees congregated to participate in the 55th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra 2026 festival.

The three Lords were brought from the altar of the Gundicha Temple and seated on Their chariots. Before the start of the procession, many cultural programmes were organized, and the Lord’s arati was performed. With the chants of “Jai Jagannath,” “Jai Baladeva,” “Jai Subhadra,” and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, the 55th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra (Bahuda Yatra) procession began.

The road was filled with devotees, all eager to see Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi returning to the temple. Everyone was eager to pull the transcendental ropes of the chariot.

There were kirtan parties in front of each of the chariots. Devotees were joyfully singing the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and dancing gracefully. Seeing them, many onlookers also joined in singing and dancing. The Hare Krishna Mahamantra and the chants of “Jai Jagannath,” “Jai Baladeva,” “Jai Subhadra,” “Suswagatam Jagannath,” “Suswagatam Baladeva,” and “Suswagatam Subhadra” reverberated everywhere.

After seeing the Lord on the chariot, pulling the ropes of the chariot, and chanting the holy names of the Lord, devotees had big smiles on their faces.

Inspiring Experiences During the Rath Yatra Procession

During the procession, I had touching and inspiring experiences. Devotees from all walks of life were present during the Rath Yatra procession.

I saw one devotee in a wheelchair. There was another devotee who was limping but enthusiastically singing and chanting the holy names of the Lord. He was carrying Back to Godhead magazines in his hand, urging people to buy them.

Initially, I thought he might be having pain in his legs because of walking for hours, so he was limping. Later, when I saw him again after some time, I realized that he was physically disabled. This time, when I saw him, he was holding copies of the Bhagavad-gītā in his hands for distribution. He had a wonderful smile on his face.

One elderly female devotee was making a swastika symbol on the road from where the chariot was about to pass. She did not have any colour or paint. She was simply drawing the sacred symbol with her fingers.

Many people came out of their offices to pull the chariot. People were also standing on terraces and balconies to see the Lord. I also saw some Muslim men and women coming out of their offices and homes to see the Rath Yatra procession.

The Lord’s chariot also passed by a hospital that had a paediatric ward and a casualty ward. I saw some patients and nurses standing near the windows with folded hands, praying to the Lord. Lord Jagannath is so merciful that He gives His divine darshan and blessings even to those who cannot come to His temple because of illness.

At different places, the chariots stopped so that devotees could offer 56 bhoga and arati to the Lord. People showered flowers on the Lord’s chariots. They also offered money and other sacred items to the Lord. Jagannath prasadam was distributed profusely. To serve the devotees participating in the Rath Yatra procession, people constantly distributed water bottles, juices, milkshakes, chocolates, biscuits, and other food items.

Although thousands of people participated in the Ulta Rath Yatra procession, there was no chaos or pushing and pulling. The police personnel had a peaceful time; they hardly had to control the crowd.

As the Rath was passing, the traffic was stopped. Buses, cars, bikes, scooters, and pedestrians had to wait for the Rath to pass. But no one complained. People were not honking their vehicles, quarrelling with the traffic police, or looking upset. In fact, they were admiring the Rath Yatra procession, clicking photographs, and recording videos.

Lord Jagannath’s Return to ISKCON Kolkata

The 55^th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra (Bahuda Yatra), which started at around 1:30 p.m. from TAI Brigade Ground, reached the 3C Albert Road, Minto Park ISKCON Temple at around 6 p.m. Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi were taken from the chariots and seated on the altar of the temple, where They will stay until the next Rath Yatra festival.

At the temple, prasadam was arranged for the devotees. After walking for hours with the Lord and chanting His names and glories, devotees honoured delicious prasadam and felt blessed and satisfied.

After the Deities had been seated on the altar of the 3C Albert Road ISKCON Kolkata Temple, the three chariots were taken back to the ISKCON Newtown Temple, where they will remain until next year’s Rath Yatra festival. A huge shed has been built to house these chariots. Many people perform parikrama of the chariots when they visit the ISKCON Newtown Temple to take darshan of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.

Watch the Complete Ulta Rath Yatra Live Stream

Watch the official live stream of the 55th Kolkata Ulta Rath Yatra (Bahuda Yatra) 2026 by ISKCON Kolkata and relive the divine return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi.

55th Kolkata Rath Yatra 2026 – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class Series

• Day 1 – HG Atul Krishna Prabhu (17 July 2026)
• Day 2 – HH Subhag Swami Maharaja (18th July 2026)
• Day 3 – HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaja (19th July 2026)
• Day 4 – HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu (20th July 2026)
• Day 5 – HG Vallabh Chaitanya Prabhu (21st July 2026)
• Day 6 – HG Atul Krishna Prabhu (22nd July 2026)
• Day 7 – HG Maharaas Prabhu (23rd July 2026)