With Ulta Rath Yatra Jagannath, Baladeva & Subhadra is back to the temple

The nine – day mega 54^th Kolkata Rath Yatra festival concluded yesterday, 5^th July 2025, with Ulta Rath Yatra. Ulta Rath Yatra started from Gundicha Temple, Brigade ground, at around 1 pm and reached Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple at around 6 pm.

During Ulta Rath Yatra too thousands of devotees participated. Large number of devotees accompanied the procession and there were huge number of people standing on the street to welcome the Lord and pull the rope of the chariots of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.

At many places devotees had made elaborate arrangements to offer 108 bhoga or 56 bhoga to the Lord.

During the procession, devotees were making beautiful rangolis to welcome the Lord.

When the procession was going through CIT road then people were showering flowers to greet the Lord.

Sankirtan during the procession

Throughout the procession, devotees were performing sankirtan. Devotees were performing kirtan in front of the chariot of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi. Many people who were standing on the side of the road to see the Lord and pull the rope of the chariot were also singing the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started this sankirtan movement around 500 years ago to connect people’s heart to Krishna. And today by the grace of Srila Prabhupada and his many followers the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra has spread far and wide.

In Kali yuga, chanting is the yuga dharma. So, if anyone chants this mahamantra sincerely, he will surely get the grace of Krishna and will attain perfection.

Krishna’s devotees are always victorious

During the Ulta Rath Yatra procession, devotees were also distributing Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Back to Godhead magazines and other books of Srila Prabhupada. Many people were attentively looking through the contents of the book and magazines and were buying it too.

If we want to connect to Krishna, then it is imperative that we study Bhagavad Gita regularly. By reading this we will come to know what Krishna expects us to do. And if we live as per the teachings of Krishna as given in Gita then like Arjuna, we will always be victorious in the battles we have to fight in our life.

In the last verse of Bhagavad Gita it is said, “Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.” Bhagavad Gita 18.78

An opportunity to show our love to Jagannath

Krishna came 5000 years back to show us the right path. And as Jagannath every year he comes out on the street during Rath Yatra festival inviting us to take his shelter. Our never-ending struggle in life will end once we accept Jagannath’s invitation and dedicate our life to him.

Rath Yatra festival provides us an opportunity to show our love to Jagannath. By participating in it, by calling out the name of Jagannath, by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra we gradually get closer to the Lord.

The Ulta Rath Yatra procession lasted for 5 hours. Devotees continued pulling the ropes of the chariot and singing and dancing. By the time the chariots reached Sri Sri Radha Govinda temple, it was around 6 pm. Everyone was excited to see the Lord coming back to the temple.

Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra finally took their place on the altar in the temple and looked quite happy. From here they will give darshan to the devotees and different opportunities to serve them.

For everyone who had come for the Ulta Rath Yatra festival there was delicious khichdi, aloo dum and halwa prasadam. It was a wonderful way to conclude the grand festival.

Three Reflections

Thousands of devotees participated in Ulta Rath Yatra festival.
Throughout the procession, devotees were performing sankirtan in front of the chariot of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi.
Rath Yatra festival provides us an opportunity to show our love to Jagannath.