Rath Yatra or Rath Jatra is a festival, celebrtaed with much fan fare in Orissa. It is also known as Puri Car Festival 2010.
Devotees hold a strong belief that single glimpse of the Lord during Rath Yatra is an means to get rid of worries and problems, to achieve salvation.
Thousands of devotees flocked the temple town today for the annual Rath Yatra of god Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The ceremonial processions of the deities known as Pahandi (carrying the deities out of the temple to the chariots) started at 8.20 a.m. IST.
The Rath Yatra marks the annual journey of the three deities from the 12th century Jagannath temple in three fabulously adorned wooden chariots, pulled by devotees, to the Gundecha temple, about two kilometres away. The festival is of nine days and at the last day the deities make their way back home to the Jagannath temple.
The procession is under strict security. Many policemen are seen in civilian clothes. Security cameras are installed to watch the trouble creators and manage the crowds.
Bomb detection and disposal squad, fire brigades are ready to meet the untoward situation.
