The ‘Bahuda Yatra’, Return Chariot Festival, of Sri Jagannatha Swamy was celebrated with religious fervour in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (July 26, 2026), marking the conclusion of the annual Rath Yatra festivities.

The return procession began from Turner’s Choultry on Main Road and proceeded to the Sri Jagannatha Swamy Temple on Town Kotta Road amid Vedic chanting, traditional music, drum beats, and fireworks. The Rath Yatra celebrations were held from July 17 to 25 at the Kalyan Mandapam premises within Turner’s Choultry.

Earlier in the day, the idols of Sri Jagannatha Swami and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were ceremonially placed on the chariot following the completion of the Dasavatara rituals.

Visakhapatnam South MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas inaugurated the ‘Bahuda Yatra’ by offering special prayers, performing traditional rituals, and pulling the chariot ropes.

ADCP Annepu Narasimha Murthy, Endowments Department Assistant Commissioner Annapurna, Temple Trust Board Chairman Surada Raj Kumar, Executive Officer T. Rajagopal Reddy, trustees, temple priests and Endowments Department officials participated. A large number of devotees joined the procession. On reaching the temple, the traditional Samvadam ritual was performed before the deities were taken into the sanctum sanctorum.

Published - July 26, 2026 06:57 pm IST