This spectacular chariot festival is held at the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri. Every year in mid-summer, Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, goes on vacation, travelling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his summer temple for a week. This belief of the Hindus has given rise to one of the biggest religious festivals in India — the Rathyatra or the Chariot Festival. It is said that the English word 'Juggernaut' has its origin in the Rathyatra of Lord Jaggannath.

During Rathyatra the three deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a grand procession in specially made gigantic temple-like chariots called raths, which are pulled by thousands of devotees.

The main chariot is 14 mtrs high and 10 mteters square with 16 wheels. The ropes of the huge chariots are pulled by millions of devptees who also believe that this act bestows salvation upon them.

Rathyatras are held in different places in India. But the Puri Rathyatra is the most famous for the crowds it attracts. About a million pilgrims from across India and abroad and tourists participate in this festival. Fourteen tailors are engaged in stitching up the covers that require almost 1,200 metres of cloth.

Ahmedabad has also its own Rathyatra. The Rathyatra of Ahmedabad stands next to the Puri festival in grandeur and crowd-pulling.

Another Rathyatra is that of Mahesh in the Hoogly district of West Bengal. It is oldest Rathyatra of Bengal.