Visakhapatnam is gearing up for the annual Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrations on July 16, with separate processions and religious programmes being organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the Sri Jagannath Swamy Temple on Town Kotha Road.

ISKCON Visakhapatnam will organise the 18th edition of its Rath Yatra from 4 p.m. onwards. Three 37-foot chariots carrying the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra will be taken out in a single procession from the Mahatma Gandhi statue opposite the GVMC office. The procession will pass through LIC Building, Ambedkar statue, Dabagardens, Jagadamba Junction and Waltair Main Road before culminating at Gurajada Kalakshetram, Siripuram.

According to the organisers, the procession will feature cultural troupes from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, besides kirtan and kolatam groups. Around 500 student volunteers are expected to assist in the event. Prasadam will be distributed to devotees during the procession, while cultural programmes, offering of 501 food preparations to the deities and maha sandhya arati are scheduled at Gurajada Kalakshetram.

Meanwhile, the Sri Jagannath Swamy Temple on Town Kotha Road has completed arrangements for its annual Rath Yatra, which will commence at 5 p.m. on July 16. Temple Trust Board chairman Surada Raj Kumar and Executive Officer T. Rajagopal Reddy said the procession would proceed from the temple to Turner Choultry. Visakhapatnam South MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas is expected to flag off the procession.

The temple will perform the Shanti Kalyanam of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Subhadra on July 15. Dasavatara alankarams will be held from July 17 to 25 at Turner Choultry Kalyana mandapam, followed by the return Rath Yatra on July 26.

Temple authorities said annadanam would be organised every afternoon and cultural programmes every evening during the festival.