Bhubaneswar, July 16 -- Undeterred by intermittent rain, lakhs of devotees converged on the pilgrim town of Puri on Thursday to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, one of India's largest and most revered religious festivals.
A sea of devotees lined the Grand Road (Bada Danda) as the three towering, brightly decorated wooden chariots rolled towards the Gundicha Temple amid chants of "Jai Jagannath" and "Hari Bol", the blowing of conch shells and the rhythmic beats of cymbals and traditional instruments.
The festival began with the completion of elaborate temple rituals, including Mangala Arati, Mailam, Abakasha, Sakala Dhupa, Ratha Pratistha and Mangalarpana. The deities were then brought out...