Sand artist Sudarshan Pattanaik creates a sand sculpture to welcome the year 2021, at Puri beach.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a 3D sand Santa Claus with a message to use masks, on the eve of Christmas at Puri beach.
Various farmer union activists stage a demonstration under All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) against the new farm laws, in Puri.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand sculpture on the USA election at Puri beach.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives a finishing touch to his sculpture depicting Goddess Durga, during the ongoing Durga Puja festival, at Puri beach.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sculpture of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan on the eve of his birthday, at Puri beach.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives final touch to a sand sculpture in memory of legendary singer S P Balasubramanyam, who passed away today, at Puri beach
Artist Sudarshan Pattanaik makes a sand sculpture with a message 'Wear Mask Properly', amid coronavirus pandemic, at Puri beach.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives finishing touch to a sand sculpture dedicated to PM Narendra Modi, ahead of his birthday, in Puri.
Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture of former president Pranab Mukherjee to pay tribute to the leader who passed away, in Puri.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi with message "May Lord Ganesha give us more power to fight against COVID-19", at Puri beach in Odisha.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture with message "Salute to All Warriors" on the eve of 74th Independence Day, at Puri beach in Odisha.
Artist Sudarshan Pattanaik makes a replica of Ram temple out of sand, on the eve of its ground-breaking ceremony in Ayodhya, on Puri beach
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik makes a sand art to pay homage to the veteran Odia actor Bijay Mohanty, who passed away today, at Puri beach. Mohanty died at a private hospital on Monday night following a prolonged illness. He was 70.
Devotees pray during the 'dakhina moda' ritual of three chariots during Rath Yatra, at Gundicha temple in Puri.
Following the Supreme Court direction, a partial curfew was imposed in Puri and all the entry points to the town were sealed since Monday night. No one was allowed to come to the grand road.
The festival ends after nine days when the deities make their way back to the Jagannath temple.
The festival marks the annual journey of the three deities -- Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra -- from the 12th century Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple
All those involved in the Rath Yatra were tested for COVID prior to event. No more than 500 people including the servitors and police personnel were allowed to pull the chariots.
The chariots were pulled to the Gundicha temple in Puri, which is around 3 km away from the main Jagannath temple. Rath Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra.
During the festival, the Gajapati King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara ritual.
The three deities were taken atop of the three traditionally decked up wooden chariots -- Nandighosa (for Jagannath), Taladhwaja (for Balabhadra) and Devadalana (for Subhadra).
Amid blowing of conches and beating of cymbals, the ceremonial procession of the deities known as "Pahandi" - carrying the deities on chariots out of the temple -- took place after the priests performed the "Mangala Aarti" early in the morning.
Only the servitors, priests, police personnel and administrative officials were allowed to participate in the festival.
The annual festival is being celebrated after the Supreme Court's nod to organise it in a limited way without public attendance.
For the first time ever, the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings began in absence of devotees at Odisha's Puri on June 23.
Priests and devotees perform rituals of Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra festival, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Puri.
King Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb performs Chhera Panhara rituals during the inauguration of the annual Rathyatra festival, in Puri.
Puri King Dibyasingha Deb being pulled in a chariot as he travels to take part in 'Chhera Panhara' ritual during the Rath Yatra festival, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Puri.
Chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath before a procession towards the Gundicha temple during the Rath Yatra festival, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Puri.
Priests and devotees perform 'Pahandi' rituals of Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra festival, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Puri.
Priests and devotees take part in the 'pahandi' rituals of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri. The Rath Yatra is being organised in a restricted manner this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Security personnel stand guard at Bada Danda (the Grand Road) as devotees prepare to pull the chariot during Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri. The Rath Yatra is being organised in a restricted manner due the COVID-19 pandemic.
Devotees maintain social distancing while taking part in Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra at Bada Danda (the Grand Road) in Puri. The Rath Yatra is being organised in a restricted manner due the COVID-19 pandemic.
Priests and policemen pull the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama, and Subhadra from the construction site (Ratha Khala) to Jagannatha Temple for the annual Rath Yatra, scheduled to start from tomorrow, in Puri.
Priests and policemen pull the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama, and Subhadra from the construction site (Ratha Khala) to Jagannatha Temple for the annual Rath Yatra, scheduled to start from tomorrow, in Puri.
In this file photo, devotees pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra during the annual Rath Yatra, in Puri. Four days after staying the historic Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri, the Supreme Court indicated it would allow the event, which is scheduled to start tomorrow, saying the court cannot "micro-manage" the rituals and left it to the state government, the Centre and the temple management to deal with that issue.
Chariots are seen ahead of the annual Ratha Yatra procession, in Puri The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Puri can be allowed to be held this year without public participation in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Artist Sudarsan Patnaik gives finishing touches to a sand sculpture, dedicated to the 20 martyrs who lost their lives during a clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh, in Puri.
Priests sit near the idols of Lord Jagannath on the occasion of Maha Deva Snana Purnima, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Puri.
People sing 'Bande Utkal Janani', Odisha's unofficial state song to motivate COVID-19 warriors in front of Jagannath Temple, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Puri.
Workers construct wheels of the chariots for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, which is scheduled to be held on June 23, in Puri.
A fisherman poses for photographs with fishes caught from the sea after Cyclone Amphan receded, in Puri.
People belonging to the fishing community unload fishes caught from the sea after Cyclone Amphan receded, in Puri.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives a final touch to his sculpture on cyclone Amphan with the message 'Join hands, Help Cyclone victims', at Puri beach.
Fishermen pull their boat back to shore amidst rough sea, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Amphan, at Puri beach.
Marine police personnel patrol Puri beach to prevent tourists and fishermen from venturing into the sea due to Cyclone Amphan, in Puri. Cyclone 'Amphan', is developing into a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal and can become a very severe cyclonic storm potentially in the next 24 hours.
A deserted view of a beach during a nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Puri.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives a final touch to his sand sculpture on awareness about coronavirus, at Puri beach.
A renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives a final touch to a sand sculpture on awareness towards coronavirus at Puri beach.
A sand sculpture created by sand artist Manas Sahoo on the eve of International Women's Day in Puri.
Tourists look on at a sand sculpture on US President Donald Trump with First Lady Melania Trump ahead of their maiden India visit, in Puri
Sand artist Manas Sahoo makes a sand sculpture to create awareness against coronavirus, at Puri, Odisha.
A sand sculpture, created by artist Manas Sahoo, after Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal won the Delhi state assembly election, in Puri, Odisha.
A creation by sand sculpting artist Sudarshan Pattanaik on the eve of 71st Replubic Day at a beach, in Puri.
A sand sculpture created by artist Sudarshan Patnaik with a message 'Go Green' on the eve of Christmas, in Puri.
A sand sculpture created by artist Sudarsan Pattnaik welcoming players from India and West Indies for their 3rd ODI cricket match to be held in Cuttack, at a beach in Puri.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during inauguration of "Marine Drive Eco- Retreat” at Puri district.
Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik creates a sculpture to commend the Hyderabad Police for its action against the four accused in the gang rape and murder of a 25-year-old veterinarian, at a beach in Puri. The Telangana Police said its personnel resorted to "retaliatory" firing after two of the accused opened fire at police after snatching weapons from them this morning.
Dancers from Srjan, an Odishi dance school, perform on the inaugural day of Konark Dance Festival at Konark in Puri.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives finishing touches to a sand sculpture of terrorist Baghdadi who was killed in an attack by USA with message "Terrorism has No place in the world ", at Puri beach in Odisha.
Women get a selfie clicked at the backdrop of a sand sculpture created by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik to dedicate team ISRO for Chandrayaan 2 at Puri beach.
A worker uses an earth mover to demolish unauthorised structures in the vicinity of Jagannath temple, in Puri
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand sculpture of former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who passed away yesterday, at a beach in Puri.
Devotees take part in the Bahuda Rath Yatra or 'Return Car Festival' which begins on the ninth day of Jagannath Yatra, in Puri, Odisha.
Police personnel pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra towards Nackachana Dwar, as part of preparations for Bahuda Yatra (return of car festival) in Puri, Odisha.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik distributes 'Abhada Torani' to devotees during the annual 'Rath Yatra' of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, in Puri.
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik watch the annual 'Rath Yatra' of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, in Puri.
Artists perform 'Gotipua' as devotees pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra during the annual Rath Yatra, in Puri.
Devotees pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra during the annual Rath Yatra, in Puri. The yatra is taken out every year on Ashadhi Bij, the second day of Ashad month, as per the Hindu calendar.
Three chariot of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Debi Subhadra, on the eve of Rath Yatra festival in Puri.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creats a sand sculpture on the eve of World Ocean's Day, at a beach in Puri.
A view of a sand sculpture by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on the eve of World Environment Day with a message 'Beat Air Pollution', at Puri beach, Odisha.
