Puri, July 15 -- Preparations gathered pace in Puri ahead of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, scheduled to commence on July 16, with the three sacred chariots set to be brought from the Rathakhala to the front of the Jagannath Temple on Wednesday, following traditional rituals.

The chariots - Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra - will be moved after the Agyan Mala Bije ritual, marking the final preparations before the commencement of the yatra on Thursday.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the festival, a multi-agency mock drill was held in Puri on Tuesday involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Fire Service, Scouts and Guides, and other agencies. The exercise...