Rath Yatra or chariot festival is a festival of Hindus, celebrated on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Asadh which is the 3rd month of the lunar calendar followed in certain parts of India. The Jagannath temple in Puri is the main epicenter of this festival. Jagannath Rath Yatra festival commemorates the visit of lord Jagannath along with his siblings to the temple of Queen Gundicha. On their way they stop at their maternal aunt’s place called the mausima temple for a meal of sweet pan cakes which is believed to be the favorite of lord Jagannath.

Lord Jagannath is popularly known as lord Krishna amongst the Hindu devotees. Jagannath temple in Puri is one of the four most significant shrines of the Hindus from all over the world and is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ as the power of ‘Yama’ the god of death amongst Hindus is believed to have been nullified in Puri because of the presence of Lord Jagannath who is believed to be residing in the historical Jagannath temple of Puri with his siblings lord Balbhadra and deity Shubhadra. The idols of these deities are taken in three immensely decorated chariots to the abode of queen Gundicha ...