Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra Begins Today Amid Heavy Security

The Rath Yatra of Puri Jagannath commences amid heavy security.

The Rath Yatra of Puri Jagannath has begun among much fanfare and celebrations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes on the occasion of the 138th Rath Yatra on Twitter.

Puri’s Rath Yatra is an annual celebration, marking the annual journey of the deities from the 12th century Jagannath Temple to the temple of Devi Gundicha (their aunt).

The chariots are painted in bright colours and the tops are covered with red, black, yellow, and green canopies.

This year’s yatra is a Nabakalebar Rath Yatra, where idols of the deities have been given new avatar after nineteen years. The last Nabakalebara happened in 1996.

The celebration ends nine days later with the Bahuda Yatra (the return journey).