The 12th century Jagannath Temple is known for its annual “car” festival. Silly me thought it was all about cars — those vehicles with four tires? Not a gigantic festival when statues of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are brought from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple in mammoth wooden chariots pulled by thousands of devotees. Hey…what do I know…that’s why I travel, to learn. Puri swells to over 1 million during this “car” (Rath Yatra) festival but over 100,000 pilgrims arrive daily to worship inside the Jagannath Temple.

Left Hotel Hans Coco Palms at 4:30 p.m., and Deepak parked the car several blocks away since 4-wheel traffic is only allowed down Puri’s main street for a short distance.  Car parked, we walked down the main street, taking in the incredible people and animal sights… (Really…cows rule India…View image…) Gawking at stands selling everything from cd’s to food, people mending shoes…View image, thousands of people (pilgrims) along with colorful rickshaws jostling for space…View image, tuk-tuks, bicycles, pedestrians, sellers, beggars, and old colonial buildings lining the streets…View image. Where do you look first?

“cows on parade” in Puri, Orissa, India 

Puri’s colorful rickshaws, Orissa, India 

selling seashells in Puri, India
Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple but there is a private library directly across the street from Jagannath Temple. All the guides know about it and take their clients up on the roof to watch the chaotic and colorful scene as well as view the Temple.  Bibhu grabbed a big stick to beat off any pesky monkeys and warned us to stay away from crumbling sections of roof.

Jagannath Temple, Puri 

Hindus devotees must wash hands and feet (similar to Islam) before entering Jagannath Temple through one of the four gates facing North, South, East (the main entrance guarded by a Lion), and West, each with sculptures of animals guarding them (Tiger, Horse and Elephant). The Temple has 3-4 halls.  The big one in the center is the major one where the statue of Lord Jagannath resides.  The black building is the biggest kitchen in India according to Bibhu and the temple cooks make food for priests, pilgrims and “holy food.”  What food remains at the end of the day is then distributed to the poor.

washing before entering Jagannath Temple in Puri, India
Truthfully, ex-Marine and I were more engrossed by what was happening in the streets than the history and lore of Jagannath Temple. Women sold cotton in front of the temple to be used as wicks in devotional oil lamps. A man left Jagannath carrying “holy food” home (on his head) for him and family. A wedding procession made its way down the street with a flatbed in the lead carrying music blaring from speakers…View image, followed by the groom’s decorated car…View image, while a hall was being gaily decorated a little way off for another wedding.

selling cotton for oil lamp wicks in front of Jagannath Temple, Puri, India 

decorations for a wedding in Puri, India 

Hindu devotee carrying “holy food” home, Puri, India
Sensory overload! and tomorrow was Konarak…