Jagannath Rath Yatra

Practice

The term Juggernaut derives from this festival. For the Hindus of Orissa, the most important gods are Jagannath, another name for Krishna, his brother Balbhadra and his sister, Subhadra. Their images are taken out in a procession once a year.

The images ride in gigantic chariots (rathas), which measure 45 feet in height. Pilgrims pull the chariots with long, sturdy ropes. The twin strains of physical effort and of devotion create near hysteria and, in the past, people are known to have thrown themselves under the giant wheels of the chariots, in the hope of getting immediate moksha (salvation).

Time: June-July, each year

Place: Puri, in Orissa.