Image courtesy: X (Dharmendra Pradhan)
As chants of "Jai Jagannath" echoed through the air, with lakhs of devotees coming together for the Rath Yatra at Puri, it was a blessed moment just watching the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings being pulled out.
The beating of cymbals along with the blowing of trumpets and conch shells created a divine vibe, as Taladwaja', the chariot of Lord Balabhadra rolled out, followed by Devi Subhadra's 'Darpadalan' chariot and finally Lord Jagannath's majestic 'Nandigho
During 'Pahandi', the three wooden idols were carried to the chariots from the 12th-century Jagannath temple.
A spectacle to witness, the procession made its way through the Grand Road after completion of the ceremonial rituals as devotees thronged the streets just to get a glimpse of the divine experience. Everyone wanted to pull the chariots and seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath as he came out of his abode.
According to officials, one million devotees are estimated to have converged on this town for the annual car festival and wooden horses of different colours were fitted on three chariots before they were pulled by the devotees.
Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festivals in India, drawing countless devotees from across the globe.
