New Delhi: Delhi-NCR is set to witness a vibrant blend of devotion and seasonal festivities as Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Temple, ISKCON Dwarka, celebrates Rath Yatra 2026 on July 16 with a grand Mango Festival. The temple will offer over 11,000 kg of mangoes to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, and Devi Subhadra, making it one of the largest mango offerings during the annual celebrations.

A major highlight of the festival will be the offering of 108 varieties of mangoes, featuring beloved Indian favourites such as Alphonso, Langda, Dasheri, Kesar, Chausa and Safeda, along with several regional varieties. After the ceremonial offering, the mangoes will be distributed as Mahaprasadam to devotees throughout the day.

The celebrations will begin at 8:00 AM with a spiritual discourse narrating the divine appearance of Lord Jagannath, followed by a Maha Abhishek using sacred water brought from the revered well at Jagannath Puri, believed to represent the holy confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The morning programme will also include a Vedic Yagna, devotional kirtans, bhajans, scriptural discourses and other traditional rituals.

The much-awaited Rath Yatra will commence at 4:00 PM, with thousands of devotees expected to pull the beautifully adorned chariot of the divine siblings as a mark of faith and devotion.

Devotees will be served traditional Odia Mahaprasadam throughout the day. Adding a festive touch, the temple will also organise a Mango Eating Contest, while the celebrations will conclude with a grand Maha Aarti followed by the distribution of prasadam.

Speaking about the event, Gaur Prabhu, Vice President of ISKCON Dwarka, said mangoes are deeply cherished by Lord Jagannath and symbolise nature’s abundance, gratitude and sharing. He added that Rath Yatra continues to inspire timeless values of humility, selfless service, faith and compassion, making it far more than a religious procession. Thousands of devotees from across Delhi-NCR are expected to attend this unique spiritual and cultural celebration.