Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, resides in Puri, Odisha, on the Bay of Bengal. According to tradition, Lord Jagannath visits the Gundicha Temple, his aunt's residence, once a year with his brother, Lord Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, on chariots.

It is held annually on the second day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashadh (June-July). In 2024, Rath Yatra will be held from 7 to 15 July.

Each year, three gigantic, elaborately decorated wooden chariots are newly constructed. The deities are taken from the Jagannath Temple and travel 3 kilometres to the Gundicha Temple on these massive chariots, pulled by a multitude of devotees. Every year around 3 lac devotees come here from across the globe to experience this gigantic festival.

The festival commemorates a legendary journey of the deities. Devotees believe that seeing the chariots brings good luck. 

Offering Brahmin Bhoj (feeding Brahmins) during the festival is considered very auspicious. Brahmin Bhoj holds immense importance in Hinduism as a ritual performed for the departed souls of ancestors. It is believed to cleanse the sins of forefathers and liberate their souls, providing the one performing the ritual with Punya and liberation from past and present bad Karmas. This ritual benefits ancestors of up to 14 generations, even if their death dates have been forgotten, and grants Moksha to the performer.

After residing at the Gundicha Temple for a week, the deities return to the Jagannath Temple in a procession called Bahuda Yatra or Ulta Rath.