Thousands of devotees participated in the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 in Jalandhar on Friday, as the city witnessed a grand procession dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Organised by the Teerth Jagannath Seva Samiti, the yatra drew devotees from across Jalandhar and neighbouring districts, turning several parts of the city into a vibrant centre of devotion and celebration.
Inspired by the world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra of Puri, Odisha, the procession began from Company Bagh Chowk (Shri Ram Chowk) at around 3 pm and passed through various parts of the city before concluding at Sai Das School Grounds. Devotees accompanied the chariot with devotional songs, Vedic chants, flower showers and chants of "Jai Jagannath", while many gathered along the route to offer prayers and seek blessings.
A special welcome was organised at Patel Chowk, where religious organisations, social groups, traders and local residents greeted the procession with flower petals. The yatra witnessed enthusiastic participation from devotees of all age groups, many of whom joined the procession singing bhajans and dancing in devotion.
Several public representatives and dignitaries attended the event, including Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia (IAS), Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh (IPS), Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir, Deputy Mayor Malkit Singh Subhana, AAP Jalandhar Central Halka Incharge Nitin Kohli, Sheetal Vij, head of the Shri Devi Talab Mandir Prabandhak Committee, Councillor Ashwani Aggarwal, Balbir Singh Bittu, Digital Media Association (DMA) President Aman Bagga, DMA Chairman Ajit Singh Buland, DMA Patron Pradeep Verma, and DMA Senior Vice President Sumesh Sharma, along with representatives from various social, religious and business organisations.
Speaking during the event, Mayor Vaneet Dhir said the large turnout reflected the city's deep-rooted spiritual traditions and hoped the Rath Yatra would continue to be organised every year. Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat described the occasion as a blessing for the people of Punjab and prayed for peace and prosperity. Nitin Kohli also appreciated the overwhelming public participation and congratulated the organisers on the successful conduct of the procession.
The day-long celebrations included the offering of 56 Bhog to Lord Jagannath, followed by a Maha Aarti, in which thousands of devotees participated. Mahaprasad was later distributed among the devotees gathered at the venue.
The event concluded with a devotional Bhajan Clubbing session hosted by Angad Talwar, which attracted enthusiastic participation, particularly from younger devotees. The musical programme marked the conclusion of the religious celebrations.
The organisers acknowledged the contribution of the volunteers and members of the Teerth Jagannath Seva Samiti, including Nishant Dhir, Angad Talwar, Abhay Thukral, Shubham Kapoor, Sushant Khera, Ambrish Kashyap and Khyati Kohli, for coordinating arrangements and ensuring the smooth conduct of the event.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra concluded with prayers for peace, harmony and prosperity. Organisers said they hope the annual celebration will continue to grow in the coming years with wider public participation, further strengthening Jalandhar's cultural and spiritual heritage.