Puri's Epic Chariot Festival: A 1,200-Year-Old Tradition!

The Rath Yatra in Puri, depicted in the post, traces its roots to ancient texts like the Brahma Purana, with historical records suggesting an unbroken tradition for over 1,200 years, showcasing a remarkable feat of cultural continuity amidst historical invasions and colonial disruptions.

The festival's scale involves crafting three new chariots annually from neem wood, a process starting on Basant Panchami, supported by archaeological evidence of similar wooden structures in Odisha dating back to the 12th century, highlighting sustainable craftsmanship.

The event's unique practice of moving deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra outside the temple, unlike typical Hindu traditions, reflects a syncretic blend of tribal and Vedic influences, as noted in studies of the Jagannath cult's evolution by scholars like Hermann Kulke.