Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated with full devotion in Tripura

Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, the grand annual festival symbolizing harmony, was celebrated with gaiety and fervour in Tripura on Saturday.

In capital Agartala, the main function took place in the Jagannath Temple where hundreds of thousands of devotees thronged to pull the Chariot of Lord Jagannath.

"In Tripura, after Durga Puja, the biggest gathering of people is for Rath Yatra. It takes place during the month of Ashar or Sraban and people from various religions participate here. People enjoy the festival forgetting their religion and children also bring out small chariots," said Ashok Deb, a devotee who travelled 65 kilometers from Udaipur to take part in the festival.

Jagannath, which means the keeper of the universe, is believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu God Krishna.

The annual procession symbolizes the celebration of Jagannath's weeklong journey from Kurukshetra to Bindraban to visit his maternal aunt's house along with his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhodra some 5,000 years ago.

"A large number of devotees participate in the Jagannath Rath Yatra that takes place annually. We have been enjoying this right from our childhood and every year the participation of people is increasing. Even people from outside also come to participate in the Rath Yatra here," added Sabita Roy, another devotee.

In Tripura, this festival took roots after a king of the Manikya dynasty, that ruled the state for more than 500 years, started it.