Ratha Yatra - Puri - 2002 The ancient Ratha Yatra festival takes place annually in the sea-coast pilgrimage city of Puri. This pleasant town is famous for its Jagganath temple, which is loved all over India. The temple is called this way because it is home to the deity of Jagganath, the Lord (Nath) of the Universe (Jagga). Each year in June/July, Lord Jagganath is taken out of the temple and placed on a huge Chariot. The Chariot is then pulled along the main road by the exited crowd, till it reaches another temple where Jagganath will reside for a week before being pulled back. There are many ancient legends and mystical pastimes revolving around Lord Jagganath. It is said that whoever eats the sacred remnants of food offered to Lord Jagganath, will surely escape the cycle of repeated births and deaths.