According to posts circulating online, the footage dates back to 1932, although its authenticity has not been independently verified.
The black-and-white clip was shared by an Instagram page named Finding Temples.
Titled "Rarest Footage of Puri Ratha Yatra 1932," the video features the British Pathé logo along with the watermark of the Finding Temples page.
The footage shows thousands of devotees gathered around the towering chariots in Puri, offering a glimpse of the grand annual festival during the colonial era. The scenes capture massive crowds, traditional processions and the timeless devotion associated with Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra.
The video has drawn widespread attention online, with users expressing nostalgia and admiration in the comments section.
One user wrote, "I remember in my childhood I used to watch LIVE telecast of Rath Yatra on Doordarshan."
Another commented, "When u realise, not a single person in this footage can see the footage now... But only Lord Jagannath can see it all."
A third user said, "The 1932 Puri Rath Yatra is famously documented in rare archival newsreel footage captured by British Pathé. This historic record offers a vivid glimpse into the colonial-era chariot festival, showcasing massive crowds, traditional drumming, and the towering wooden rathas (chariots) being pulled by thousands of devotees."
Another person summed up the sentiment by writing, "None of the people are alive today, but the tradition is."