India, July 14 -- Every year, millions of devotees gather in Puri, Odisha, to witness the grand Jagannath Rath Yatra. The sight of the towering wooden chariots, the sound of devotional songs and the sea of pilgrims make it one of the world's most celebrated religious festivals.

But spiritual teacher Yuvika Dhar tells Hindustan Times that the true meaning of Rath Yatra goes far beyond the grand procession. She says the festival invites people to look within and understand one of the deepest teachings of Indian spirituality: the oneness of all life.

For many, Rath Yatra is known as the day when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra leave the Jagannath Temple and travel to the Gundicha Temple. Thousands of devotees pull the ...