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Chandan Yatra
 Location: Jagannatha Temple, Puri, Orissa
Falls On: Month of Baisakh or Vaishaka (April)
Duration: 21 Days
Chandan Yatra marks the conclusion of the cycle of religious festivals observed in the famous shrine of Lord Jagannth at Puri followed by similar other shrines of Orissa. The festival, starting from Akshyaya Trutiya, lasts for twenty-one days and is held in the month of Baisakh at the height of the summer heat when Chandan (sandle-paste) and water are essential to keep people cool.
A Twenty-One Days Extravaganza
This festival is most elaborate in Puri and attracts thousands of pilgrims from far and near. On all the twenty-one days the entire road from the shrine of Lord Jagannatha leading up to the "Narendra Sarobar" (a sacred tank in Puri town) along with the houses on both sides is decorated. At some places, especially in front of 'Maths' (monasteries) or at cross-roads big 'toranas' (arches) are erected where the idols take casual rest and receive offerings
The representative images of the deities installed in temples such as "Madanmohana" (representing Lord Jagannatha), "Laxmi" and "Saraswati" are taken in a richly decorated palanquin by the 'Sevakas' accompanied by priests, musicians and dancers to the Narendra Sarobar at night. The tank is profusely lighted with thousands of spectators milling and jostling all around in expectation of the arrival of the procession. The principal deities are also followed by different deities from the different shrines of the town. After reaching the Narendra Sarobar, the images are then placed on different well-decorated boats and they are rowed for a long time by the Sevakas. During the rowing ceremony 'Devadasis' (temple-dancers) dance and sing on the boat.
The Ceremony
Generally, the colours chosen for the boats are red and white and they are so designed to look like huge swans floating on water. The peculiarity of the ceremony is that Madanmohana with Laxmi and Saraswati rides on the white coloured raft where-as Ramakrishna with "Pancha Shivas" rides the red one. All the deities on the boat take several rounds in the water, which continue till early hours of the morning and then retire to the respective shrines. The last day of the festival is called "Bhaunri" ('Bhramari' or circle) when special elaborate arrangements are made.Most of the important festivals of Lord Jagannatha at Puri are also followed in all other important shrines of Orissa. Following tradition of the Puri the images are taken out in procession on palanquins to the nearby tanks and perambulated in water on boats. In all such temples it is observed only for the last three days. After the ceremony, which usually takes place at mid-night, people enjoy performances of dance, drama and music specially arranged for this occasion.
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