Over 3,000 devotees participated in the annual Rath Yatra celebration organized by BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Kolkata, on 24 June 2009.

At 3.00 p.m. the Rath Yatra began with the Vedic pujan of the murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Jagannathji, Shri Balbhadraji and Shri Subhadraji, in the main 35-ft. high rath (chariot), by Bhagwatpriya Swami, Purushottamjivan Swami and other BAPS sadhus.

The procession was then flagged off by Chief Guest, Shri Dineshbhai Trivedi (Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi) and others.

Thereafter, devotees took turns to pull the rath through the streets of Kolkata, namely Sarat Bose Road, Hazra Road, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Elgin Road, Sarat Bose Road and back to the Mandir. Thousands of onlookers witnessed the procession and joined in by pulling the rath. The devout atmosphere was enhanced by the devotees of Orissa, who had come specially to sing bhajans in their unique, traditional style.

The procession concluded at 7.00 p.m. outside the BAPS Mandir on Chakraberia Road, where the final arti was performed.