Puri (Orissa)/Ahmedabad: July 15, 2007 - Devotees from across the country have flocked to Orissa as the temple town of Puri is all set for the annual Rath Yatra (chariot festival) of Lord Jagannath beginning on Monday.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Rath Yatra. Security men have been deployed at every entry and exit point leading to the temple to prevent untoward incidents.

The festival is celebrated by pulling out large wooden wheel chariots of
Lord Jagannath, along with sister Subhadra and brother Balram from the temple
through the city's decorated streets for over six hours.

Shanti Ghosh, a devotee said: "I hope I get an opportunity to pull the strings of the chariot and thus pay obeisance to the God".

The Yatra is also held at other places where a Jagannath temple exists as in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Security has been stepped up around the Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad city.

Over 8,500 police personnel have been deployed around the temple in Jamalpur area and other sensitive areas of the city.

"There are 62 companies of the paramilitary forces, including the home guards, BSF (Border Security Force), CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), RAF (Rapid Action Force)," said J. Mahapatra, Police Commissioner of Ahmedabad.

The festival, which begins on Monday, commemorates Lord Krishna's return to His home in Vrindavan, after a long period.

Usually, the Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra are worshipped within the temple. But on the day of the Rath Yatra (car festival) they are taken through the streets so that everyone can have a holy glimpse. Three heavily decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri. New chariots are built every year.

This commemorates the annual journey of these three deities to their aunt's temple (Gundicha Mandir), two kilometres from their temple. The idols of the deities are rested for seven days before their return to the main temple.

The Rath Yatra is held in June-July and has been going on for the last ten centuries though the existing temple was built in 12th century A.D.

Million of devotees and visitors from across the world are expected to congregate on the occasion to participate in the massive procession lasting over six hours that moves through the city's decorated streets.

Believed to be the world’s biggest religious procession by many individuals, the annual Rath Yatra (chariot journey) involves a sea of devotees, who follow a series of hand-pulled, brightly decorated chariots carrying idols of the deities.

The Jagannath temple is about 60 kilometres from Bhubaneswar, the State capital of Orissa. (ANI)