The Rath Yatra and Odisha Festival 2026 will take place from July 16 to July 24, according to Utkala, the cultural arm of Shri Jagannath Seva Samiti, Kidderpore. Devotees, artists, and tourists will come together for the nine-day event to experience Odisha’s rich spiritual and cultural traditions.

A press conference was organized to announce this upcoming event. It was graced by Shri Parshuram Bishoyi, Vice President, Shri Jagannath Seva Samiti, Kidderpore Jagannath Temple; Shri Pramod Kumar Jena, Secretary, Shri Jagannath Seva Samiti, Kidderpore Jagannath Temple; and Shri Saroj Mallik, Secretary, Utkala. Raghbir Singh, State General Secretary, BJP Minority Morcha, West Bengal, also graced the event.

“Rath Yatra is a religious festival bringing devotees from different backgrounds together. The Odisha Festival honors the spiritual values and rich cultural legacy of Odisha. We have always strived to uphold and advance these customs while uniting people in harmony and devotion through Utkala. We cordially invite everyone to join us in commemorating this holy day,” said Mr. Chandrasekhar Panigrahi, President of the Shri Jagannath Seva Samiti in Kidderpore.

The festivities will start on July 16 with the magnificent Rath Yatra procession from Kidderpore’s Shri Jagannath Temple to Bhawanipur’s Northern Park, where the gods will stay until July 24.

The Rath, bearing the gods, will start the Bahuda Yatra on July 24 from Northern Park and travel to Kidderpore’s Shri Jagannath Temple. The next day, the temple will celebrate Suna Besha.

The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) will support devotional kirtans, traditional Ghanta and Shankh performances, and the traditional Chhera Pahanra ritual, which will be performed by Mr. Ram Gopal Bansal, Chairman of BMW Industries Limited, during the Rath Yatra procession.

The Odisha Festival will start on July 17 and run for the duration of the gods’ visit to Northern Park.  The festival will showcase Odisha’s rich artistic legacy through cultural performances, devotional music, classical dance, folk customs, theater, and competitions. In addition, visitors will be able to sample traditional Odia food and view displays of Odisha’s handicrafts and Sambalpuri and Kataki handloom textiles.

Prof. P. K. Mishra will receive the Utkala Samman 2026 as part of the festivities in honor of his exceptional contributions to art and culture. The festival will also feature a popular Khiri Pitha competition on July 19, a devotional song competition and classical dance competition on July 18, and a closing ceremony on July 23, 2026.

Priyanka Dutta