Rath Yatra 2022: Vibrant chariot festival begins in Puri, thousands of devotees pay respect - in Pics

The Rath 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. (Pic courtesy: Zee Media)

Vibrant colours, enthusiastic faces, crowded shops, and cheery craftspeople are just a few of the highlights of Rath Yatra in Puri, the popular Chariot celebration held on a big scale every year outside Jagannatha Temple. (Pic: Zee Media)

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. Lakhs of devotees throng Puri for the festival. (Pic: Zee Media)

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". He also created 125 sand chariots to mark the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath at Puri beach.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted people on the occasion of the 'Rath Yatra' of Lord Jagannath, wishing that everyone is blessed with good health and happiness. "Greetings on the special day of Rath Yatra. We pray to Lord Jagannath for his constant blessings. May we all be blessed with good health and happiness," he tweeted.

As per the schedule issued by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the procession activities will be completed by 12.30 noon while the titular king of Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb will perform 'Chhera Pahnra' (sweeping of three chariots) between 2.30 PM to 3.30 PM. The chariot pulling will start at 4 PM.

 

More than 180 platoons of armed police personnel, including 1,000 officers of various ranks are deployed in and around Puri while around 50 CCTV cameras are fitted in Grand Road and other places in Puri to ensure the safe conduct of the festival. (Pic: ANI)

 

 Artist creates miniature chariots of the three gods using chalk and matchsticks ahead of Jagannath Rath Yatra. (Pic: ANI)

The devotees were denied entry into the holy town during the festival in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Pic: ANI)