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Jagannath Rath Yatra: ( June/July)

 

At the temple town of Puri in Orissa, the image of the god Krishna  (known as Jagannath in that area) is taken out with great ceremony in June-July each year.

Images of the god and his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra are placed in giant large yellow chariots or raths which are then drawn by pilgrims. The chariots are as much as 45 feet high and have 6 wheels. The procession or rath yatra draws huge crowds from all over the country and from abroad. An atmosphere of almost hysterical devotion prevails on this day and in earlier years, devotees were known to have thrown themselves under the wheels of the rath in the hope of obtaining instant salvation.