Visakhapatnam Concludes Jagannatha Festivities with Bahuda Yatra Return Procession
Devotees gathered in Visakhapatnam on July 26, 2026, to observe the Return Chariot Festival of Sri Jagannatha Swamy. The ceremony featured Vedic chanting and traditional rituals as the deities returned to their permanent temple.
Ceremonial Return to Town Kotta Road
The annual Rath Yatra festivities in Visakhapatnam reached their finale on Sunday, July 26, 2026, during the Bahuda Yatra. The religious event saw the decorated chariot of Sri Jagannatha Swamy journey from Turner’s Choultry on Main Road back to the Sri Jagannatha Swamy Temple located on Town Kotta Road. This procession signified the end of a nine-day stay at the Kalyan Mandapam, where the deities had been housed since July 17.
Rituals and Civic Participation
Before the movement began, priests finalized the Dasavatara rituals, allowing the idols of Sri Jagannatha Swami, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra to be ceremonially installed upon the chariot. Visakhapatnam South MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas initiated the journey by performing traditional prayers and leading the symbolic pulling of the chariot ropes. The atmosphere along the route was defined by several key elements:
- Continuous Vedic chanting and rhythmic drum beats.
- Traditional musical performances and firework displays.
- The presence of high-ranking officials including ADCP Annepu Narasimha Murthy and Endowments Department Assistant Commissioner Annapurna.
- Coordination by Temple Trust Board Chairman Surada Raj Kumar and Executive Officer T. Rajagopal Reddy.
Concluding the Sanctum Transition
As the chariot reached its destination, the procession concluded with the Samvadam, a traditional dialogue ritual. Following this exchange, the deities were moved from the chariot back into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. A significant turnout of local devotees followed the chariot throughout the day, participating in one of the region's most prominent religious observations.
Source: The Hindu — News
