I Have Never Been To Puri, But Rath Yatra Still Feels Like Home

Rath Yatra doesn't need a front-row seat in Puri to be meaningful. I've never stood among the crowds in Odisha's spiritual capital. I've never pulled a chariot or seen the three deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, make their majestic journey. And yet, every year, this day means something to me. It means waking up to my mother preparing delicacies she grew up eating. It means dressing in something simple, yet festive. It means going to the small Jagannath temple tucked in the chaos of Delhi.

Even if it's not a public holiday in the city, the rhythm of the day changes at home. And that's enough.

Celebrate Rath Yatra With Ethnic Wear And Festive Memories At Home; Photo Credit: Pexels

Holding On To Culture From Miles Away

Our family is rooted in Odisha, and while we've made a life in Delhi, festivals like Rath Yatra keep those roots alive. The celebration isn't marked with pomp and processions, but with emotion and intention. My mother never misses the chance to recreate the flavours of home, dalma, khechedi, and poda pitha fill the kitchen with warmth. She lights a diya and chants the prayers she's known by heart since childhood.

We might not have the grandeur of Puri, but our rituals, quiet, personal, and filled with meaning, bring us peace.

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After Work, A Temple Visit And A Simple Celebration

Since there's no official day off, we wait until the sun sets. After work, the family walks together to a nearby Jagannath temple. It isn't ornate or grand, but it holds all our prayers. Sometimes we reach just as the final aarti begins. That flicker of flame, that chant in the air, it makes me feel like I'm in Odisha, even when I'm not.

We offer our sweets, bow our heads, and take a moment to simply be.

Finding Festive Comfort In Everyday Ethnic Wear

For me, Rath Yatra has also become about dressing with a sense of belonging. I don't go overboard, just a soft cotton kurta, maybe a bindi or a pair of silver jhumkas. Sometimes, it's a rust-coloured dupatta or a handwoven saree that brings warmth of Odisha's quiet elegance.

This year, I found a few pieces online that felt just right, earthy, breathable, rooted in culture but light enough for a humid Delhi evening. It's become my own small way of celebrating, choosing something that reflects where I'm from, even if it's just a kurta or a stole.

A Festival That Lives Through Memory

Even without the chariots or the crowds, Rath Yatra feels sacred to me. It reminds me that tradition doesn't need a stage, it only needs intention. Through the meals we cook, the clothes we wear, and the time we carve out of a busy city life, we keep something alive. Something that connects generations and reminds us of who we are.

It might just be a walk to the temple or a plate of kheeri, but for me, it is Rath Yatra, celebrated quietly, remembered deeply, and cherished with every small ritual.