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The
holy city of Puri, 60 km from Bhubaneswar, is one of the four holiest
points of pilgrimage for Hindus. The reigning deity of the city,
Lord Jagannath, whose temple was built way back in the 12th century,
is not only of great religious significance to the people of Orissa
but is revered by thousands of pilgrims who seek His blessings from
every part of the country.
This intense veneration of Jagannath, or the Lord of the Universe,
reaches its zenith during the annual rites of the Rath Yatra in
the months of June-July, when the images of Lord Jagannath, His
sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are transported through the
Grand Road (Bada Danda ) of Puri in traditionally decorated massive
chariots that are dragged by thousands of devotees to the Gundicha
Ghar where they sojourn for a week. The process is repeated when
they are returned amidst intense religious fervour to the temple.
Though the temple is closed to non-Hindus, the activities of the
Jagannath Temple are so immense that they create enough colour and
interest for tourists to participate in the bazar element of the
proceedings outside the temple precincts.
The other important feature of the town is its beautiful beach which,
for centuries, has offered pleasure to both pilgrims and swimmers.
This picturesque beach is one of the most delightful white beaches
in the country and is becoming a pleasure haunt for tourists from
all over the globe. Though the surf here is pretty exciting, the
undercurrent can be a bit tricky, so tread carefully...
The areas both within and outside Puri offer excellent shopping
and the nearby artist villages of Pipli (for the famous applique
work), Raghurajpur (for pata and palm-leaf paintings) and BalakatKfor
bell-metal work) bring shoppers directly in contact with the craftsmen
at work. It can be quite an experience.