Ratha Yatra, the chariot festival of Sri Jagannath Dev which is one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, ended today with the celebration of Ulto Ratha Yatra. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, July 5, 2025 (BSS) - Ratha Yatra, the chariot festival of Sri Jagannath Dev which is one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, ended today with the celebration of Ulto Ratha Yatra (reverse journey).

Marking Ulto Ratha Yatra, rituals were held at different temples across the country.

The day's programmes heralded in the morning included chanting of Harisangkirtan, holding of Agnihotra Joggo seeking world peace and people's welfare.

Recitation of verses from Srimat Bhagabat Geeta, distribution of moha prosad, discussions, rendition of padaboli kirtan and arati, cultural function, staging of religious drama and screening of religious films were also held at temples across the country.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) chalked out a nine-day programme in Dhaka. The festival began with Ratha Yatra procession and other rituals on June 27 (Friday). 

Under the arrangement of ISKCON, a colourful procession with chariots was brought out from Dhakeshwari National Temple in this afternoon.

Large number of devotees pulled the ropes of the chariots with deities of Jagannath (Vishnu avatar), Balaram, or Balabhadra (his brother), Subhadra (his sister) and Sudarshana Chakra (his weapon) from Dhakeshwari Temple through Palashi Crossing, Jagannath Hall, Central Shaheed Minar, Doel Chattar, High Court crossing, Press Club, Purana Paltan, Dainik Bangla intersection, Motijheel Shapla Chattar and Jaikali Temple, and rounded up the Ratha Yatra on the premises of the ISKCON temple at Swamibagh.

Besides, the Ulto Ratha Yatra was also celebrated at Ramseeta Mandir at Joikali Mandir Road at Shankharibazar and Jagannath Jeo Mandir at Tantibazar in old city and other places across the country.

The country’s oldest and most traditional Ulto Ratha Jatra festival was celebrated in Dhamrai, in Dhaka district. 

Special security measures were taken across the country including the capital marking the festival to avert any untoward incidents.

Ratha Yatra is a journey in a chariot with deities of Jagannath (Vishnu avatar), Balaram, or Balabhadra (his brother), Subhadra (his sister) and Sudarshana Chakra (his weapon) on a Ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot accompanied by people in colourful procession.

It draws millions of Hindu pilgrims who join the procession each year in the Indian subcontinent including Bangladesh for long.

The Ratha Yatra of Puri is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashar (June-July).