As Rath Yatra begins today, Puri, Odisha, will once again become the stage for one of India's most celebrated traditions. The festival sees Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra pulled through the streets on towering wooden chariots. The deities travel about 3 kilometres from the Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple, believed to be their aunt's home, where they stay for nine days.

The chariots are rebuilt from scratch every year using sacred carpentry techniques. Despite their massive size, no iron nails are used; the structures are held together with wooden pegs and traditional joinery. Before the procession begins, the King of Puri performs the Chera Pahara ritual, sweeping the area around the chariots with a golden-handled broom to symbolise that everyone is equal before the divine.

Pictured here is the Stone Chariot at Hampi's Vittala Temple in Karnataka. Often associated with Rath Yatra imagery, it has stood still for nearly five centuries. Featured on India's ₹50 note, this monument proves that not every chariot needs to move to make history.