Jagannath Rath Yatra began in Puri and various other places in the country

The annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) began on 29 June 2014 at Puri of Odisha. More than 10 lakh devotees from India and abroad descended to the pilgrim town of Puri for glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Lord Jagannath.

On this day, Lord Jagannath – the Lord of the Universe – along with his siblings, comes out of his sanctum sanctorum to give Darshan to all Devotees belonging to all sects and communities. The Return Rath Yatra (Bahuda Jatra) from Gundicha temple will be held on 7 July 2014.

Apart from this, the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was also performed across the country.

The Chariot of the deities was rolled on the city roads amid tight security.

About Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra
During the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are brought out of the temple and are taken to Gundicha temple (their aunt's house). Aunt here refers to the feminine creative aspect of divinity.

During the journey, the chariots on which the deities are carried are pulled by thousands of devotees. The three deities stay in the Gundicha temple for a week and then return.

This Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is being carried on for more than one thousand years and has not changed at all in these years. The Rath Yatra is celebrated by Hindus between June-July every year on the second day of Sukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Ashadh.