To facilitate the Rath Yatra, the Morang District Traffic Police Office has announced a special bypass route. From 2 PM today, all vehicular movement will be restricted along the main road stretching through Tinpaini and Biratnagar Bazaar.
Key arrangements include:
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Koshi Highway will be cleared after 4 PM, but passenger buses and small vehicles can operate until 6 PM. Cargo trucks will be held at designated checkpoints.
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Trucks from Jatva canal south road and Katari will be held, while small vehicles and motorcycles will be diverted through bypass routes via Kanchanbari, Bhatti Mod, and Hatkhola.
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From 6–8 PM, the entire highway will remain closed when the chariot reaches Traffic Chowk and proceeds towards Roadshesh Chowk.
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Passenger buses after 6 PM will follow routes via Kanchanbari west canal–Pichra Bus Park, while small vehicles will take detours via Baragachhi, Radha Raman Temple, Ghas Chowk, and Moti Bhawan West.
The Newly Built Grand Chariot
This year marks the 58th Rath Yatra since its official commencement in 1968 (2025 B.S.), though the tradition of carrying Radha-Krishna on a wooden palanquin (“Khat Yatra”) dates back to 1931 (1988 B.S.), making it the 95th year of the practice.
The old chariot had deteriorated, leading to the construction of a newly designed artistic chariot costing 6 million rupees. Biratnagar Metropolitan City allocated 4.478 million rupees for the project.
Highlights of the new chariot include:
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Weight: nearly 7,000 kg built on a 2,200 kg iron base.
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Design: Constructed from sakhua and sissoo wood with intricate carvings, following pagoda-style architecture in accordance with Vastu Shastra.
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Dimensions: 21 ft tall, 14 ft wide, and 19 ft long with a three-tier roof topped by a gilded finial.
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Symbolism: Four wheels representing Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
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Ornamentation: Flags of the Sun and Moon at the front, Hanuman on the left, Garuda on the right, and Durga and Ganesh at the rear — symbolizing protection, power, and divine guidance.
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Special Throne: Features artistic depictions of the Astha Nagas (Ananta, Vasuki, Padma, Mahapadma, Takshaka, Karkotak, Shankha, and Kulir), representing the divine serpents who protected Krishna during his transfer from Mathura to Gokul.
The chariot will be pulled using ten-foot-long wooden yokes, with police personnel also mobilized to manage the procession.
The Procession
The nine-kilometer-long route begins at the Radha-Krishna Temple in Tinpaini (Biratnagar-1), then passes through Main Road, Roadshesh Chowk, Dharan Road, Mahendra Chowk, and Baragachhi, with halts at 44 designated spots for worship rituals.
Public Holiday and Festive Significance
The Koshi Province government has declared a public holiday today in Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, and Udayapur districts to mark the occasion.
This year’s Yatra is expected to be especially significant, as the newly built grand chariot will be unveiled to devotees for the first time. Organizers believe this will address past complaints where devotees could not properly view the deities due to the older, smaller chariot structure.
The Rath Yatra of Biratnagar, celebrated annually on the day following Krishna Janmashtami, continues to hold immense religious and cultural value. With strengthened security, new traffic arrangements, and the unveiling of the grand artistic chariot, today’s 58th edition promises to be a majestic and spiritually uplifting celebration.
