Preparations begin for annual chariot festival in Puri

Puri, June 07 (ANI): Preparations began for the annual chariot festival of the presiding deities of the famed Lord Jagannath temple in Puri city. The festival commemorates the annual journey by Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and his sister Lady Subhadra in specially made chariots to Gundicha temple, two kilometres away from the Puri temple. The deities are expected to undertake the journey in a religious procession on July 18, in newly built chariots which are now being made in the temple premises. Nabakalebara is the ritual to replace the idols of the three presiding deities at the Jagannath temple with new idols made using sacred wood. It was last held in 1996. Devotees from across India and abroad converge in Puri to take part in this ritual which is usually held once in 12 to 19 years.

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