Rathayatra is one of India’s most revered festivals, celebrated with great enthusiasm in several parts of the country, including West Bengal. The Ratha yatra of Mahesh stands out for its historic and grand celebration. This chariot festival is recognized as the oldest of in Bengal back to the year 1396.
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Nearest Airport
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
Howrah Railway Station
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West Bengal
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Nearest Airport
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
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Mahesh Rathayatra
Rathayatra is one of India’s most revered festivals, celebrated with great enthusiasm in several parts of the country, including West Bengal. The Ratha yatra of Mahesh stands out for its historic and grand celebration. This chariot festival is recognized as the oldest of in Bengal back to the year 1396.
Historical Background
According to legend, Drubananda Brahmachari, a devotee of Bengal pilgrimage to Puri with a hope of offering bhoga to Lord Jagannath. However, he was denied by the temple authorities. Disheartened, he returned to Mahesh in West Bengal and established a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
Later Sri Chaitanya on his journey toward Puri stopped at Mahesh and named Mahesh as Naba Nilachal, meaning "New Puri."
The present-day chariot used for the festival was built in 1885 under the sponsorship of Krishnaram Basu and constructed by the Martin Burn Company. This impressive structure features a steel frame and wooden superstructure. Standing at 50 feet tall and weighing 125 tonnes. Two copper horses are positioned at the front of the ratha.
Festival Rituals and Celebrations
The festival begins with the Snanayatra rituals ,observed on the full moon day prior to Rathayatra. During this ritual, the deities of Jagannath, Balaram, and Subhadra are bathed in copious amounts of milk and holy Ganges water.
Following this, two days after Snanayatra and about two weeks before Rathayatra, the Angaraga ceremony takes place. This is a three-day ritual in which the idols are repainted with herbal dyes.
The day before the chariot procession, Lord Jagannath is ceremoniously declared the king. On Rathayatra day, the idol of Jagannath is placed atop the highest tier of the chariot, along with the idols of Balaram and Subhadra.
The Rathayatra of Mahesh is not only Bengal’s oldest chariot festival but also most renowned. The month-long fair draws an enormous crowd, with an estimated 2 to 3 lakh devotees and visitors attending the event. During the festival, Lord Jagannath travels to the Gundicha Temple and remains there until the return journey, known as Punarjatra or Ultorath.
Mahesh Rathyatra
Essential Information
Venue
Serampore, West Bengal
Date
July 16th 2026
Source
West Bengal Tourism
