Rath Yatra festival: Thousands participate in chariot pulling ritual
Puri's famous Rath Yatra began Friday, as thousands gathered to pull the grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra through the city.
The streets came alive with music, chants of "Jai Jagannath," and a sea of devotees making their way from the centuries-old Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple.
King sweeps chariots as crowds roar
Before the chariots hit the road, priests performed a two-hour Pahandi ritual to bring out the deities.
The king of Puri then swept each chariot in a symbolic 'Chhera Pahanra' ceremony.
Nearly a million people showed up—some joining in, others just soaking up the atmosphere with Odissi dance performances and folk art adding extra color.
Security was tight with about 10,000 personnel on duty
With such huge crowds, security was tight: about 10,000 personnel were on duty using AI-powered cameras and anti-drone tech to keep an eye on things.
The nine-day festival wraps up with the Niladri Bijay ritual and draws visitors from all over India—and beyond—every year.