Passengers are advised to consult official railway websites and public information channels to access real-time train schedules, seat availability, and platform updates.
New Delhi: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the deployment of 365 special trains to and from Puri ahead of the annual Puri Rath Yatra festival, one of the most deeply rooted spiritual gatherings in India’s eastern corridor. The addition of special trains will ease the movement of lakhs of devotees expected during the sacred chariot procession. The centuries-old festival pays homage to Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, as they are ceremoniously taken out of the sanctum of the Jagannath Temple and drawn to the nearby Gundicha Temple in grand, towering wooden chariots.
This year’s Yatra, scheduled to commence on June 27, 2025, marks a high point in Odisha’s ritual calendar.According to the statement issued by the ECoR, this extensive network of services is designed to accommodate the exceptional swell in pilgrim traffic, while also offering easier access to those residing in districts not typically served by high-frequency passenger trains.
Special Trains To and From Puri:
The railway authority has stated that these additional trains will operate from a wide range of origins across Odisha, including Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Bangiriposi, Junagarh Road, Badampahar, Boudh, Jagdalpur, Baleswar, Angul, Gunupur, and Rayagada.
According to the Indian Railways, services will also be extended to key junctions in neighbouring states, with trains running to and from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gondia in Chhattisgarh, and Santragachi in West Bengal.
Ritual Calendar: Puri Rath Yatra 2025
- Snana Purnima (Ceremonial Bathing of the Deities): June 12
- Anavasara (Seclusion Period): June 13 to June 26
- Gundicha Marjana (Temple Cleansing Ritual): June 26
- Rath Yatra (Main Chariot Procession): June 27
- Hera Panchami (Divine Visit of Lakshmi): July 1
- Bahuda Yatra (Return Journey to Jagannath Temple): July 4
- Suna Besha (Golden Ornamentation of the Deities): July 5
- Niladri Bije (Re-entry into the Sanctum): July 5
Passengers are advised to consult official railway websites and public information channels to access real-time train schedules, seat availability, and platform updates.
