Controversy Erupts Over Lord Jagannath's Missing Crown During Puri Rath Yatra

A major controversy has erupted during the Puri Rath Yatra as Lord Jagannath was taken out without his traditional floral crown, leading to political backlash against the ruling BJP government. Opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, have criticized this oversight, claiming it has hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration attributed the incident to rain, but this explanation has been met with skepticism. The situation has not only disappointed devotees but also sparked a new political debate in Odisha, with calls for public apologies from the state government. Read on to explore the full implications of this incident.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 18, 2026, 09:09 IST

Significant Incident During Puri Rath Yatra

A major controversy has emerged during the globally renowned Puri Rath Yatra, as Lord Jagannath was brought out of the temple to the chariot without his traditional floral crown, known as 'tahiya'. This oversight has ignited political tensions in Odisha, with opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, launching sharp criticisms against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The incident occurred on Thursday when Lord Jagannath was being taken out of the 12th-century historic temple as part of the 'Pahandi' ritual. Typically, during this ritual, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, wears the grand floral crown. However, this time, while the idols of Balabhadra and Subhadra were adorned with the 'tahiya', Lord Jagannath was seen without his crown.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) explained that the crown was removed shortly before the idol reached the open area due to rain. Opposition parties dismissed this explanation, arguing that the Rath Yatra occurs every year during the monsoon season, and such a long-standing tradition has never been overlooked before.

Bhakta Charan Das, the president of the Odisha Congress, stated, 'The absence of the 'tahiya' when the Lord appeared before devotees has hurt the religious sentiments of millions.' Senior BJD leader Pramila Malik also criticized the state government, asserting that it should publicly apologize to the millions of Jagannath devotees for this oversight.

Furthermore, Pramila Malik directly targeted the state government, emphasizing that since the Puri Jagannath Temple falls under the Odisha government's law department, it should take responsibility for this significant lapse and apologize to the devotees. This traditional oversight has not only disappointed the devotees but has also sparked a new political controversy within the state.