| |
Located on the golden shores
of the Bay of Bengal, Puri is one of the four main Hindu pilgrim
centres (chaturdhama) of India. Being the abode of Lord Jagannath,
literally the Lord of the Universe, the city is a place for colourful
fairs and festivals round the year, the grandest of which is the
'Ratha Yatra,' the annual journey of the Lord along with His siblings
in gigantic chariots.
The 'Ratha Yatra' is held every
year in June-July. Although the span of the main festival is nine
days the whole cycle of the festival is spread over the entire
summer and monsoon months. In fact the Car Festival is the grand
culmination of a series of celebrations beginning in April. Tradition,
ceremonies and rituals have given human attributes to the Lord
and it is evidenced by the manner in which the festival is observed.
|
|
|
