Our Story

A Journey That
Began With Faith

"The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath has been taking place in the city of Bhavnagar for the last 40 years."

What started as one modest procession has grown into a citywide observance that draws families, volunteers and devotees back to the same streets every year. Behind the chariots stands a lineage of organisers, well-wishers and everyday Bhavnagar residents who kept the tradition moving forward through change, restriction and celebration alike.

This page traces that road — from the first hesitant procession in 1986 to the tradition Bhavnagar now welcomes every year.

Years of Tradition

State Rank

National Rank

Where It Began

Milestone Years

The Journey So Far

Every Year, The Wheel Turns

Like the chariot itself, the Rath Yatra's story has moved forward one turn at a time — through a controversial beginning, quiet years of growth, a change in leadership, and a pandemic that tested everything.

1986

A Controversial Beginning

A Ram Janaki Rath Yatra procession was planned for Bhavnagar during a tense period, with many questioning whether it should go ahead. The organiser and his guru chose to move forward regardless — a short, small procession, but Bhavnagar's first ever Rath Yatra.

1990

The Route Expands

What began as a modest walk through a few streets started to grow. The festival gained a longer, more elaborate route as more of the city opened its doors to the chariots.

1991–92

A Transition In Leadership

Guru Bhikhubhai Bhatt, who had led the committee since its founding, passed away. Harubhai Gondaliya stepped forward to carry the responsibility of leading the Yatra committee onward.

1995

Order In The Streets

Rising tension in the city called for a stronger response. With DSP Rajnish Rai and DySP B.J. Bhatt, the committee adopted the security scheme used in Ahmedabad — a turning point that has kept the Yatra running smoothly for the decades since.

2020

The Pandemic Pauses The Streets

COVID-19 halted the procession for the first time in decades. Devotees still came — not to walk beside the chariots, but to visit them where they stood at the temple.

2021

Devotion, Adapted

Restrictions kept the chariots inside the temple premises for a second year. Sanitisation stations replaced the crowds, and devotees adjusted without ever losing the thread of tradition.

2024

Uniting Hearts And Devotion

The streets filled again. Thousands of devotees returned for a vibrant celebration that reflected both the city's deep-rooted heritage and Harubhai Gondaliya's tireless work in preserving it.

2025

A Legacy Of Faith And Growth

Participation reached new heights, with more devotees and volunteers than ever. The year underlined Harubhai Gondaliya's enduring legacy and the community bonds the Yatra continues to strengthen.

2026

Current Status

Today the Rath Yatra stands as a symbol of devotion, unity and cultural pride — a sacred tradition still flourishing, carried forward by the community that has protected it since 1986.

The Torchbearers

Guided By Two Generations

Founding Guru

Bhikhubhai Bhatt

Led the committee · 1986 – 1991

The guru who, alongside the procession's founder, chose to hold Bhavnagar's very first Rath Yatra in 1986 despite a difficult climate. His leadership through the committee's founding years laid the foundation everything since has been built on.

Current Leadership

Harubhai Gondaliya

Leading the committee since 1992

Took on the responsibility of the Yatra committee after 1991 and has led it through every chapter since — expansion, new security arrangements, a pandemic, and the Yatra's continued growth into the tradition it is today.

What Carries It Forward