Bhubaneswar: Devotees from around the world have congregated in Odisha’s Puri to witness Rath Yatra, the nine-day annual sojourn of the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple.
It falls on the second day of the Odia month of Ashadha Shukla Tithi (bright fortnight).
It is believed that on this day Lord Jagannath & his siblings – Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra- step out of the sanctum sanctorum and mingle with devotees, surpassing social and religious barriers. The grand procession along Bada Danda on elaborately decorated wooden chariots following the Pahandi ritual is expected to commence at 4 pm after wooden horses are attached to the three rathas.
Lakhs of devotees pull the chariots on the 3-km stretch from the 12th-century shrine to Shree Gundicha Temple, which is considered their birthplace. While Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra will roll along the Puri Grand Road, Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra will be the first to trail behind. Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha, the largest of the three chariots, will follow after the other two.
Here are some pictures of the chariots awaiting the Lords.
