Thousands of devotees poured into Puri with religious fervour and enthusiasm to take part in the grand spectacle of the annual Rath Yatra keeping in with centuries old tradition of pulling majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother and sister. And across the country, Ahmedabad saw the 134th Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath at the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area.

A big arrangements are aslo done by the respective authorities to facilitate the thousands of pilgrims already reached Sri Dham Puri. Hundreds of NGOs including Bharat Sevashram Sangha run their Seva Works for the thousands pilgrims assembled in thousands and lakhs every year.

Some 5000 devotees took part on Saturday morning, during the whole day in “Gundicha Marjan”, cleaning of Gundicha Temple premises, where the Lord Jagannath will reach in some moments with his elder brother and younger sister through the auspicious Rath Yatra, which is nothing but the direct interaction of Lord of this Universe with his devotees to get this chance in streets to the hearts.

The chariot Festival  is now considered as a major festival in the Global hindus as every continent and mojor cities are absorved with the fever of Charot festival of lord Jagannath.

ISKCON is the main organisation  for for this. Hare Krishana !!!
People from across the country and abroad descended on pilgrim town Puri, and Ahmedabad, to have a glimpse of the presiding deities of the Sri Jagannath temple.

In Puri, since early morning, thousands of devotees kept pouring in to watch the ceremony and pull the three colourful chariots on the 'bada danda', the Grand Avenue, where security personnel were deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident.

As the presiding deities, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra - set out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for their annual nine-day sojourn to Gundicha temple, about 2km away, a number of special rituals like Mangla Arati and Mailam were performed.

Descending from the Ratna Sinhasana, the bejewelled throne, the three deities were taken out of the temple down the 22 steps known as "Baisi Pahacha" through the Lion's Gate in an elaborate royal ritual called "Pahandi" as devotees and sevayats jostled to have a glimpse and touch them.

In a rhythmic style, the deities were taken out to the accompaniment of beating of ghantas and kahalis and blowing of conch shells.

The proceedings were watched by millions, including governor MC Bhandare and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, while buildings on both sides of the Grand Avenue were occupied by thousands of people vying for a proper view.

As volunteers were seen spraying jets of cold water on the vast multitude to give them relief from heat, security cordons were put in place around each chariot and policemen had a trying time controlling the crowd before and during the pulling of chariots.

At first Sudarshana, the celestial wheel of Krishna-Vishnu, was taken out and placed in the chariot of Subhadra followed by Balabhadra, Subhadra and finally Jagannatha.

Ready to carry the deities to the Gundicha temple, the three majestic wooden chariots waited outside draped in yards of red, black, green and yellow cloth.

The 45-feet high "Nandighosh", the chariot of Lord Jagannath with 16 huge wooden wheels, the 44-feet high "Taladhwaja", the chariot of Balabhadra with 14 wheelsand Subhadra's 43-feet high "Darpadalan" chariot with 12 wheels stood for transporting the deities.

Meanwhile, in Ahmedabad, Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed the symbolic cleaning of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, after which the 'Rath Yatra' began. The chariot procession of Lord Jagannath passed through 110 places in Gujarat.

Sri Sri Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra or Chariot festival of Jagannath Puri  is one of the largest religious ceremonies in Bharat (India) and the world too.  Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra  dates on 3rd July , Sunday, this year 2011. Puri Rath Yatra commemorates the significant journey of Lord Krishna from Gokula to Mathura. This annual festival is celebrated on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashad month).

As a part of Rath Yatra, the sacred wooden idols  Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Mother Subhadra are taken out from the sanctum sanctorum of world famous Puri Jagannath temple in a large procession of millions to the Gundcha Temple and remain there for seven days. In three separate Chariots, eye balls of the devotees complete their journey in phases capturing all attentions for more than 8 hours.  Then the deities are returned again to the Puri Jagannath temple through a Return Charriot Yatra (Ultto Ratha) after observing certain rituals. The return journey in Puri is also known as Bahuda Yatra.

For the rath yatra, three huge chariots – each with about a dozen wheels up to 7 feet in diameter – are ritually pulled through the streets, from the Jagannath temple to the temple of Gundicha Mandir. The Raths are replicas of the Jagannath temple and each of them carries an idol – of Jagannath in Nandighosa Ratha, of his brother Balbhadra in Taladhwaja Ratha and his sister Subhadra in Dwarpadalana Ratha.

New painting at temple top to make a colorful celebration at Puri Rath Yatra.

Rituals of Puri Ratha yatra begins formally on Akshay Tritiya through the Chandan Yatra, when the making of the chariots and sandalwood paste offering to the deities are started.

All are now set to have a glimpses on to Lord Jagannath, with a chanting… “Jagannatha Swami, Nayana Patha Gami, Bhabatu Me” – Oh! Lord please be visible once before my eyes !!!…..

It is believed that the rebirth cycle is ceased as one sees the Lord in his Charriot at Puri Ratha Yatra. “Rathapori Vamanm dristva Punarjanma na vidyatee”…..

The Railways authority in India has arranged specials trains for Ratha Yatra Festival this year also like previous years.