This spectacular chariot festival celebrated for 8 days, is held at the famous Jaganath Temple at Puri (Orissa). Thousands of devotees flock to Puri during the occasion as they believe that a glimpse of Lord Jagnath in his chariot gives salvation.

This festival is the main tourist attraction which has such a magnetic driven force that it not only attracts people from India but also from abroad. People actually visit Puri in the month of June as it’s during this month that the Rath Yatra takes place. Here Lord Jagannath with his sister Subhadra and brother Balabhadra take an annual vacation to the ‘Gundisha Ghar’, 2 kms away from the main temple. This journey is called the Rath Yatra. The three deities are taken in three separate chariots (Raths) and are pulled by the devotes to the Gunchida temple.

Orrisa comes alive in the month of June and July because this is the time when the famous Jagannath Rath Yatra takes place in Puri. People from all across Orrisa and from various parts of India come to take part in this auspicious occasion. Orrisa witnesses the inflow of about 7 to 10 lakhs of pilgrims during this Car Festival. Foreigners also enthusiastically participate in the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra. The Car Festival remains one of the world's most unbelievable spectacles in terms of grandeur and enthusiastic devotion.