India, July 16 -- Amid chants of devotion and the thunderous cries of "Jai Jagannath," the majestic chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and the divine weapon Sudarshan rolled along the historic Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Puri on Thursday, marking the commencement of the world-famous Rath Yatra.

The ceremonial pulling of the chariots began at around 5.10 p.m., more than one hour behind schedule due to heavy rainfall, after the completion of the traditional Chhera Panhara ritual performed by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath.

Earlier in the day, the deities were ceremonially escorted from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to their respective chariots during ...