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Festival The famous festival of Puri Rath Yatra (Chariots of Lord Jagannatha) is celebrated every year at the sacred coastal town of Puri, in the state of Orrisa. It is one of the biggest festivals during the monsoon season. According to the Indian solar calendar, it falls two days after the new moon day of the month of Asadh. This annual festival commemorates the journey of Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. It also symbolizes a journey to light from the dark. Throughout whole of the year all the deities Jagannath (Krishna), Baladeva and Subhadra remain inside the temple but on the day of the Rath festival they are taken through the streets so that everyone can have the fortune of seeing them.

Chariots Three richly decorated gigantic chariots, resembling the 12th century Jagannath temple in shape are pulled through the streets of Puri. On the day of journey the three chariots the Lord Jagannath’s yellow coloured Nandighosa, Balabhadra’s blue colored Taladwaja and Subhadra’s Deviratha are lined up in front of the temple and then the deities are brought on to their respective Chariots. Once the king of Puri the living symbol of Lord Jagannath sweeps the chariots with scented water and golden broom, the pilgrims lined up with the rope pull the chariots on the Badadanda to Gundicha Ghar which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. Since non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Jagannath temple it is the only day when non-Hindu devotees get their glimpse of the deities. A spiritual ambience pervades the whole scene as bells chime; conch shells blow and the saffron robed sadhus dance with abandon. It is fascinating to watch the delirious masses paying homage to the Lord as the chariots move on almost as if propelled by a divine force.

Procession The procession is led by Balabhadra’s chariot, followed by Subhadra,s with the Lord Jagannath’s bringing up the rear, dragged by about 4000 honored devotees to their garden house, the Gundicha Ghar. On the way deities are treated to special Cake, Podapitha offered at the shrine of goddess Aradhamsini (aunt) of Lord Jagannath. Once the chariots reach Gundicha Ghar of Mandir, the deities give darshan to devotees every day. After a rest of 8 days, they return to Jagannath Temple with a similar procession. Every year new chariots are constructed to rigid specifications of make laid down in temple’s ancient manuals. Millions of devotees, from all over the country and abroad, pay homage to the Lord as the chariots.