02:39Thousands gathered for the annual Ratha Yatra festival in Odisha state's Puri on Sunday, the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival.
Footage shows huge wooden 14-metre-high chariots carrying representations of the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. They are taken to the Gundicha temple, before being returned to the Jagannath temple the following week. Locals are also seen crowded around the chariots, dancing and playing instruments.
"I'm here for the second time, but for Ratha Yatra, I'm here for the first time, and I can't explain to you what a wonderful feeling I'm feeling. The moment I step into the grounds, I have goosebumps," shared a participant. "It just feels amazing for me to be here. The Lord Jagannath's blessings and presence made me [feel] like I'm in some other world, and I just wish that all his blessings were always on us".
The Yatra, the annual chariot procession from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple in Puri, India, features the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra in decorated chariots pulled by devotees along a 3.2km route.
Every year, millions of people from all over India converge on Puri for the Rath Yatra festival. This grand event takes place in either June or July each year and is also celebrated in neighbouring Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Follow that chariot! Ratha Yatra Festival sees thousands transport their deities to Gundicha temple
Thousands gathered for the annual Ratha Yatra festival in Odisha state's Puri on Sunday, the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival.
Footage shows huge wooden 14-metre-high chariots carrying representations of the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. They are taken to the Gundicha temple, before being returned to the Jagannath temple the following week. Locals are also seen crowded around the chariots, dancing and playing instruments.
"I'm here for the second time, but for Ratha Yatra, I'm here for the first time, and I can't explain to you what a wonderful feeling I'm feeling. The moment I step into the grounds, I have goosebumps," shared a participant. "It just feels amazing for me to be here. The Lord Jagannath's blessings and presence made me [feel] like I'm in some other world, and I just wish that all his blessings were always on us".
The Yatra, the annual chariot procession from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple in Puri, India, features the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra in decorated chariots pulled by devotees along a 3.2km route.
Every year, millions of people from all over India converge on Puri for the Rath Yatra festival. This grand event takes place in either June or July each year and is also celebrated in neighbouring Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Thousands gathered for the annual Ratha Yatra festival in Odisha state's Puri on Sunday, the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival.
Footage shows huge wooden 14-metre-high chariots carrying representations of the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. They are taken to the Gundicha temple, before being returned to the Jagannath temple the following week. Locals are also seen crowded around the chariots, dancing and playing instruments.
"I'm here for the second time, but for Ratha Yatra, I'm here for the first time, and I can't explain to you what a wonderful feeling I'm feeling. The moment I step into the grounds, I have goosebumps," shared a participant. "It just feels amazing for me to be here. The Lord Jagannath's blessings and presence made me [feel] like I'm in some other world, and I just wish that all his blessings were always on us".
The Yatra, the annual chariot procession from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple in Puri, India, features the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra in decorated chariots pulled by devotees along a 3.2km route.
Every year, millions of people from all over India converge on Puri for the Rath Yatra festival. This grand event takes place in either June or July each year and is also celebrated in neighbouring Nepal and Sri Lanka.