Jagannath Rath Yatra

'Jagannath' means 'Lord of the Universe', and he is a form of Lord Krishna worshipped especially in Puri. According to legend, King Indradyumna asked Vishwakarma to carve the deities' idols, on the condition that no one disturb him during the work. The queen's impatience led to the door being opened too soon, causing Vishwakarma to leave the work unfinished, this is why the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are still worshipped today in this distinctive form, without fully carved hands and feet.

Once a year, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings, travels from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple, regarded as his aunt's home or birthplace. This journey reflects the idea that once a year, the Lord himself steps outside the temple's boundary to give darshan to all his devotees, without any discrimination.

Each of the three chariots has its own name, Lord Jagannath's chariot is called 'Nandighosha', Balabhadra's is 'Taladhwaja', and Subhadra's is 'Darpadalana'. These chariots are freshly built from neem wood each year, and once the Rath Yatra concludes, their wood is regarded as sacred and put to further use.

On the day of Rath Yatra, the Gajapati King of Puri himself sweeps the chariots with a golden broom, in a ritual called 'Chhera Pahara'. This tradition shows that before the Lord, everyone, from the king to the common devotee, is equal.

Thousands of devotees pull these massive chariots with thick ropes, and the entire town comes alive with devotion amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath'. It is believed that even pulling or touching the chariot grants special merit.

Nine days later, on Dashami tithi, the Lord returns in the 'Bahuda Yatra'. Beyond Puri, Rath Yatra is also observed on a smaller scale by many organisations worldwide, including ISKCON.