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Chandan Yatra in Puri: the deities' evening boat rides on the Narendra tank
Gods rowed round a temple tank at dusk, cooled with sandalwood
Chandan Yatra, the sandalwood festival, is the longest festival of the Jagannath temple in Puri: 42 days from Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of the bright half of Vaishakha, in two halves of 21 days. In the first half, Bahar Chandan, festival images of the deities are carried out of the temple each evening and rowed on decorated boats around the Narendra tank. Dates: 9 May – 19 June 2027 (expected). The same opening day starts the building of the chariots for Rath Yatra.
The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration's festive calendar for the Odia year, published around April, gives the opening day; the evening boat timings are announced locally.
The legend
Chandan Yatra, the Sandalwood Voyage, is the longest festival of the Jagannath temple at Puri: 42 days in two parts.
For the first 21 days, Bahara Chandana, festival images of the deities and five Shiva images are carried out through the Lion Gate to the Narendra tank.
The second 21 days, Bhitara Chandana, are kept inside the temple. And on the festival's first day work begins on the chariots for Rath Yatra.
Customs
Evening on the tank
The deities are seated in two decorated boats, Nanda and Bhadra, and rowed around the Narendra tank in the evening.
Sandal paste
In the hottest weeks the deities are anointed with cooling sandal paste, which gives the festival its other name, Gandhalepana Yatra.
Words of the festival
ଚନ୍ଦନ ଯାତ୍ରା
Chandan Yatra
The Sandalwood Voyage: the deities' summer boat outings.
Bahar Chandan: evenings on the Narendra tank
The main deities of the Jagannath temple do not leave the sanctum for Chandan Yatra. Their place is taken by representative images: according to the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration, Madanmohan, Rama, Krishna, Bhudevi and Shreedevi, together with five Shiva images known as the Pancha Pandavas. Each evening of the first 21 days they are carried in procession out through the Lion Gate, the temple's main gate, to the Narendra tank.
There they are seated in two decorated boats, Nanda and Bhadra, rowed around the water and worshipped on board. Kotha Karana servitors walk with the deities as their guards, carrying swords. In the hottest weeks of the Odisha year the images are anointed with cooling sandal paste, which is where the festival gets its name.
For anyone who cannot enter the temple, these evenings are one of the few chances to see the festival images outside its walls. Any evening of the first three weeks will do; the boat timings are announced locally.
Bhitar Chandan and the first day of the chariots
The second 21 days, Bhitar Chandan, are kept inside the temple. The daily evening outings stop. The temple's festive calendar instead marks Jalakrida, the deities' water play, on a few lunar days of this half, among them the new moon, the full moon, and the sixth and eleventh days of the fortnight; Wikipedia describes these as the four boat rides of Bhitar Chandan. In a year with an extra lunar month the inner half runs on through that month.
The festival is also the starting gun for Puri's biggest event. The temple administration states that construction of the chariots for Rath Yatra begins on Akshaya Tritiya, the first day of Chandan Yatra, so the six weeks of sandalwood are also the weeks in which the chariots take shape.
The temple administration lists Chandan Yatra, under Akshaya Tritiya, among the twelve major festivals of the temple year.
Temple rules worth knowing
The boat processions take place outside the temple, but the rules of the temple itself are strict and set by its administration.
- Who may enter — The temple administration's answer is direct: only Hindus are allowed inside the temple. Others can see the festival images at the Narendra tank during Chandan Yatra, and the main deities on their chariots at Rath Yatra.
- What to leave outside — Shoes, sandals, leather items, cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside. The administration runs free shoe and phone stands near the Lion Gate, which is the only entrance.
- Conduct — The temple's do's and don'ts: no liquor or other intoxicants during darshan (viewing of the deities), no non-vegetarian food, no cooked food carried in, and no footwear or leather items in and around the temple premises. Bathe and wear clean clothes before entering, and keep silence inside.
- The heat — Chandan Yatra falls in the hottest weeks of the Odisha year, which is the reason for the sandal paste. Evenings by the tank are the time to come.
A quiet counterpart to Rath Yatra
Chandan Yatra happens when Puri is otherwise empty, and it is the quiet opposite of Rath Yatra. The temple administration publishes its festive calendar for the Odia year around April, with the opening day; the 21 evenings of boat rides follow from there. If you want both, see Rath Yatra in Puri: its chariots are the ones whose building begins on the first day of Chandan Yatra.
FAQ
When is Chandan Yatra?
Next: 9 May – 19 June 2027 (expected). It begins on Akshaya Tritiya and lasts 42 days; the evening boat rides are in the first 21. The end date is a projection from the lunar calendar until the temple publishes its calendar, around April.
What is Chandan Yatra?
The sandalwood festival of the Jagannath temple in Puri. Festival images of the deities are anointed with sandal paste and, for 21 evenings, rowed in two boats, Nanda and Bhadra, around the Narendra tank.
What are Bahar Chandan and Bhitar Chandan?
The two halves of the festival, 21 days each. Bahar (outer) Chandan has the evening processions to the Narendra tank; Bhitar (inner) Chandan is kept inside the temple.
Which deities go on the boats?
Representative images, not the main deities: Madanmohan, Rama, Krishna, Bhudevi and Shreedevi, with five Shiva images known as the Pancha Pandavas, according to the temple administration.
Can non-Hindus see Chandan Yatra?
Only Hindus may enter the Jagannath temple, but the boat processions take place outside it, at the Narendra tank, so the festival images can be seen there in the first 21 evenings.
How is Chandan Yatra linked to Rath Yatra?
Construction of the Rath Yatra chariots begins on Akshaya Tritiya, the first day of Chandan Yatra.
Sources (6)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.