Millions of devotees attended the Hindu festival of Rath Yatra in Puri, eastern India, after a two-year absence due to COVID-19.

Huge crowds gathered on July 1 to watch three chariots pass through the city's streets during the nine-day festival.

Devotees were unable to attend the festival for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Around 1,000 police officers are on-hand to control the large crowds.

The holy city of Odisha, Puri is all set to celebrate the world-famous festival ‘Rath Yatra’ on Friday, 1st July 2022. Lord Jagannath and his siblings are celebrated every year with great joy and enthusiasm.

This year, the festival is a memorable reunion of devotees with the Lord as participation of devotees in the festival has been allowed this time after a gap of two years. Devotees were not allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra due to Covid-19 restrictions clamped by the government. All the four deities including Lord Sudarsan together known as the Chaturdha Murati seated atop their chariots embarked on the nine-day-long annual sojourn. Lakhs of devotees have been witnessed thronging the pilgrim town of Puri to witness the mega spectacle.

The journey of the holy trinity to visit Gundicha Temple begins today as Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra in their chariots Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Devadalana respectively move towards their destination.

Odisha police made the biggest-ever security arrangement for Rath Yatra in 2022 after two years of a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Devotees are expected to arrive in Puri in huge numbers and the enthusiasm levels will be quite high.

Police personnel on duty have been asked to stay alert and neutralise any kinds of possible terror threats during the nine-day festival.

In the biggest Rath Yatra festival, more than 1000 police officers, and 185 platoons of force have been deployed to control the crowd and secure the area.