Time of Year :

Rath Yatra begin from mid-April which is the beginning of the Hindu solar calendar and summer therefore becomes the season for this great yatra, which spreads over the entire summer and monsoon months.

Importance of Festivals:

Lord Krishna declared that in Kal Yug he would dwell in the seaside town of Puri. Therefore Puri is accepted as the abode of Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. This land of plenty, rain and sunshine is one of the most picturesque in the eastern coast. The beach of Jaganpuri is the longest in the world. The sand is grey and coconut palms, thari palm and the kadly plant (small bananas) grow in plenty.

Paddy is their agriculture crop and rice is eaten morning, noon and night, except when one is ill; then chappati is prescribed by the village doctor. the men and women are dusky. Adi (first) Shankaracharya chose Puri as one of the four sacred dhaams. 

A visit to the four dhaams would bestow moksa on the person. The other three are Badrinarayan. in the Himalayas in the north; rameshwaram in the extreme south, and Dwaraka on the west coast: the four dhaams are situated in the four extreme corners of India and going to all four traverses the entire length and breadth of our country, experiencing the different culture, customs and even laws.

Adi Shankaracharya, a thousand years ago, wanted the people of India to understand that everything was admissible in Hindu society; if done in keeping with the environment, social conditions and the codes of conduct of the particular region.

Jagannath Puri is visited by thousands of pilgrims all the year round, but to be there at the time of the Rath Yatra is regarded as holy as a visit to Hardwar or Kashi. Elaborate arrangements are made by the state govrnment and the local people. There are numerous Dharamshalas and small hotels for the pilgrims, as well as five-star hotels. The beach is filled with people, especially during the evening.