Jagannath Temple

Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (a form of Vishnu), along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra. The temple was built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga in the 12th century CE. It is world-famous for the annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival), during which the three deities are carried in massive wooden chariots - the English word 'juggernaut' derives from this procession. The wooden idols of the deities are ceremonially replaced every 12-19 years in a sacred ritual called Nabakalebara. Entry is restricted to Hindus only. The temple's kitchen, Ananda Bazaar, is the largest in the world, feeding nearly 100,000 people daily with Mahaprasad - food considered sacred because it is cooked for Lord Jagannath. The temple towers to 65 metres (214 feet) and is topped by the Sudarshana Chakra and the Neela Chakra flag. The temple complex covers about 10.7 acres and is surrounded by two concentric walls.