27
Jun
Puri, June 27, 2025 — The sacred Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Puri on Friday, drawing tens of thousands of devotees onto the Grand Road as the deities embarked on their nine-day journey to the Gundicha Temple. The streets echoed with devotional chants, rhythmic drumbeats, and an overwhelming sense of spiritual energy as chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra rolled forward in one of Hinduism's most revered festivals. The ceremonial highlight was the 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual — a symbolic act of humility where Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, swept around the chariots with…