Rath Yatra is one of the grand events of the state of Odisha that is celebrated in the sacred city of Puri. Also known as Car Festival 2013 Puri, the Yatra marks the journey of the deities of the famous Jagannath Puri Temple to their aunt’s house the “Mausima Temple”. Here at the temple Lord Jagganath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Throughout their stay at the temple they are offered a variety of cuisines and sweet pancakes (Lord Jagannath’s favorite). The chariots on which the deities onsets their journey is called Rath and are adorned with colorful designs and patterns by the artisans.
Rath Yatra 2013 is a grand event and thus attracts travelers, pilgrims and devotees from all corners of the earth. The spectacular sight when the chariots are pulled truly showcases their love and devotion towards the deities. The city of Puri witnesses a rise in the number of visitors owing to the Rath Yatra. The Last day of the Celebratory event called “Bahuda Yatra” falls on 19th July and marks the return of the three deities to their abode, the Jagannath Temple. The Rath Yatra is celebrated in Different parts of the country but the grandeur one can witness in Puri is unsurpassed. The sight of the streets flocked with tourists explains their belief in the deities. Apart from Indian, the festival also attracts a large number of foreign tourists in Puri. Much of the credit to make take this event to the international level goes to the ISKCON foundation.
