The Jagannath Puri Ratha Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariot was held in July in the temple town of Puri in Orissa. The presiding deities of the temple; Lord Jagannath (Krishna), Lord Balabhadra (Balram) and Goddess Subhadra (sister Subhadra) are taken out from the temple interiors in an elaborate procession in their respective chariots to the Gundicha Temple (their aunt’s place). The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by thousands of devotees. The deities reside here for nine days and are again brought back to their original temples.
The important aspect of this chariot festival is that this is the only day when devotees who are otherwise not allowed in the temple premises can get to see the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over the world go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pull the Lords' chariots with ropes with the help of other priests.
The chariots are some 45 feet (14 m) high and have beautiful carvings and decorations for the event. These chariots are built anew each year from a particular type of tree. The devotees believe that a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is bliss and hence throng to Puri from places far and near.
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