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At the temple town of Puri in Orissa, the image of the god Krishna
(known as Jagannath in the State) is taken out with great ceremony
in June-July each year. Images of the god and his brother Balbhadra
and sister Subhadra are placed in giant large yellow chariots
or raths which are then drawn by pilgrims. The chariots
are 45 feet high and have 6 wheels. The procession or rath
yatra draws huge crowds from all over the country. An atmosphere
of almost hysterical devotion prevails on this day and in earlier
years, devotees were known to have thrown themselves under the
wheels of the rath in the hope of obtaining instant salvation.
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