Rich Odia heritage comes alive with chariot pulling, 56 dishes

Hundreds of expats celebrate 15th Ratha Yatra in Dubai with rituals and music

- BY ASHWANI KUMAR Chief Reporter

Hundreds of Indian expats, mostly hailing from the state of Odisha, celebrated the 15th Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) in Dubai on Sunday, organised under the banner of Odisha Samaj UAE.

The Chariot Festival of Puri, Odisha, is dedicated to Hindu deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. During the festival, the three deities are placed on a giant wooden chariot pulled by community members from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.