Ratha Yatra

Hindu festival · chariot procession · India

Gigantic wooden chariots. The chariots used in Ratha Yatra are enormous wooden structures shaped like temples on wheels. The most famous one, in Puri, India, is so heavy that it takes thousands of people working together to pull it through the streets.

Deities on parade. The chariots carry statues of Hindu gods and goddesses, most famously Jagannath (a form of Vishnu), Balabhadra, and Subhadra. People line the streets to see the deities as they pass by.

Across South Asia. Ratha Yatra festivals happen every year in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Each celebration is a big community event that brings families and friends together.

Thousands pull together. During the procession, hundreds or thousands of people gather ropes and pull the massive chariot through the streets. It's a teamwork spectacle that shows the power of a whole community working as one.

Ancient annual tradition. Ratha Yatra festivals have been celebrated for centuries as part of Hindu religious practice. They mark important times in the calendar and are looked forward to by millions of people each year.