The Puri Jagannath Temple is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, considered highly sacred in India. It is dedicated to the trinity of Lords – Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The idols are made of wood, and a unique ritual of replacing the idols with new ones takes place every 12 or 19 years.
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One of the mysteries associated with the temple is the flag that flutters atop the main spire. The flag always seems to be flying in the opposite direction of the wind.
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Another unexplained phenomenon is that the temple casts no shadow, regardless of the time of day.
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The Sudarshan Chakra, a discus located at the top of the temple, has two mysteries. One, it appears to be bigger when viewed from the bottom than from the top. Two, there is a belief that no birds ever fly over the temple.
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Every year, the Ratha Yatra or chariot festival is a grand celebration in Puri. The three deities are taken in a procession on huge chariots to Gundicha Temple, signifying their annual journey to their maternal aunt’s house.
