The annual chariot procession began on Thursday but was paused overnight before resuming on Friday morning. As the procession continued, Lord Balabhadra's chariot reached the Mausi Maa Temple, while the chariots of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Subhadra advanced steadily toward their destination. The uninterrupted participation of devotees in heavy rain reflected the deep spiritual significance of one of India's largest religious festivals.
Among the prominent attendees was singer Sonu Nigam, who participated in the Jagannath Rath Yatra for the first time. Describing the experience as a lifelong dream, he joined thousands of devotees in witnessing the historic procession.
The celebration was overshadowed by a tragic crowd surge near the Singhadwara, which claimed the lives of two people and left around 100 others injured. Despite the incident, authorities deployed more than 10,000 security personnel to manage the massive gathering, ensuring that the overall arrangements remained smooth as the procession continued.
The 2026 Jagannath Rath Yatra once again demonstrated the immense spiritual devotion associated with the centuries-old festival, with lakhs of pilgrims continuing the sacred journey through heavy rain while authorities managed one of the country's largest annual religious gatherings amid an unprecedented turnout.
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