‘Lord Jagannath gives darshan to everyone’: Foreign devotees share spiritual experience at Puri Rath Yatra

July 17, 2026 11:15 AM

‘Lord Jagannath gives darshan to everyone’: Foreign devotees share spiritual experience at Puri Rath Yatra

As the Jagannath Rath Yatra entered its second day on Thursday, devotees from across the world shared their spiritual experiences of witnessing Lord Jagannath in Puri, describing the annual festival as a unique occasion when people of all nationalities can receive the deity's blessings.   A devotee from England said the Rath Yatra offered an experience unlike anything he had witnessed before and highlighted that the festival provides to all the devotees an opportunity to have Lord Jagannath's...

When the Lord Comes to the People: The Story of Jagannath Rath Yatra

July 16, 2026 4:08 PM

When the Lord Comes to the People: The Story of Jagannath Rath Yatra

Every year, the temple town of Puri in Odisha becomes the centre of one of the world's oldest and largest religious gatherings as millions of devotees assemble for the Jagannath Rath Yatra, or the Festival of Chariots. During this annual celebration, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and the celestial wheel Sudarshana leave the sanctum of the Jagannath Temple and travel in grand wooden chariots to the Gundicha Temple, nearly two miles away. After a seven-day stay, the deities re...

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Rajnath Singh extend greetings on Jagannath Rath Yatra

July 16, 2026 10:05 AM

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Rajnath Singh extend greetings on Jagannath Rath Yatra

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended greetings to the nation on the sacred occasion of the Jagannath Rath Yatra.   Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla described the Jagannath Rath Yatra as a living symbol of India's Sanatan cultural traditions and a unique confluence of faith, spirituality and public welfare.   In a post on X, he said, "On the sacred occasion of the Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav, heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen. The Rath Ya...

Hero MotoCorp launches flex-fuel motorcycles; Gadkari, Puri pitch biofuels as key to India’s mobility future

June 4, 2026 10:35 AM

Hero MotoCorp launches flex-fuel motorcycles; Gadkari, Puri pitch biofuels as key to India’s mobility future

Hero MotoCorp on Wednesday launched its first flex-fuel motorcycles, the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel, with Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri describing the move as a significant step towards cleaner transportation, lower oil imports and greater energy self-reliance. Speaking at the launch event in the national capital, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said flex-fuel mobility aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of sustainable and sel...

India records highest-ever renewable energy addition; Odisha to get 1.5 lakh rooftop solar units

December 7, 2025 1:55 PM

India records highest-ever renewable energy addition; Odisha to get 1.5 lakh rooftop solar units

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said that India has achieved its highest-ever annual non-fossil energy capacity addition, reaching 31.25 GW so far in FY 2025–26. Of this, 24.28 GW came from solar power alone. The minister was speaking at the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 in Puri, Odisha. Joshi said India is now a major driver of global renewable growth, contributing significantly to the world’s rapid clean energy expansion. While the world...

Religious tourism fuels residential boom in tier-2 cities: report

December 4, 2024 4:35 PM

Religious tourism fuels residential boom in tier-2 cities: report

Tier-2 cities with a strong religious tourism appeal, including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Puri, and Shirdi, are witnessing a significant surge in residential demand, according to a report by Magicbricks. This growing interest is driven by a mix of self-use, investment, and rental opportunities, with these cities leveraging their cultural and spiritual significance to attract buyers. Prayagraj, home to the sacred confluence of rivers, recorded a remarkable 28% year-on-year (YoY) increase in demand, ...

Security heightened in Puri ahead of Lord Jagannath’s Bahuda Yatra

September 16, 2024 5:56 PM

Security heightened in Puri ahead of Lord Jagannath’s Bahuda Yatra

As the city of Puri prepares for the Bahuda Yatra, marking the return of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to their main temple, authorities have ramped up security measures to ensure a smooth and safe celebration. The Bahuda Yatra, scheduled for Monday, signifies the conclusion of a nine-day sojourn for Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra. Devotees will pull three chariots carrying the deities from Sri Gundicha temple back to Sri Mandir, their primary abode. “All our arrange...