Shri Jagannath Rath yatra begins in Odisha's Puri

Bhubaneshwar, Jul 1: The holy city of Odisha's Puri is all set to celebrate the famous Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath today (Jul 1). After due rituals, the three Raths of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra have been pulled and put stationed in front of the Singha Dwara of the Shreemandira on Thursday (Jun 30) itself. The Yatra will take place today.

According to the statement of Odisha Police, top-notch security arrangements have been made, keeping the expected crowd at the festival in mind. Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has made magnificent sand art with the message; "On this Rath Yatra, let us pledge to "Say no to single-use Plastic."

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Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu greeted the people on the occasion of Rath Yatra. He said, "I convey my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. The Rath Yatra of Odisha, depicting the annual journey of Lord Jagannatha, considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, witnesses the coming together of the entire community in celebration of the grace and divinity of the Lord".

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The Ratha Yatra, also known as the Chariot Celebration of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra, is the most prominent Hindu festival in the Puri city of Odisha. This festival takes place every year on the second day of the Shukla Paksha in the months of June or July. This year the festival falls on July 1. The three chariots are built a new, every year ahead of the annual chariot festival.