A single touch of THIS chariot is believed to grant redemption and Moksha

The God of the World, Lord Jahannath, is a beloved deity. With large eyes, unformed arms, and a face that smiles as he looks at every devotee, Lord Jagannath is like the elder brother who looks after us during the highs and the lows of life.
And for the people of Puri, and those who follow the Vaishnava tradition, Lord Jagannath is the supreme Lord who can make anything possible just with his divine eyes and face.

In Puri, Odisha, the Jagannath temple is not just a temple, but a site of pilgrimage. Every Hindu has once in their life wished to visit the temple and look at Lord Jagannath and his siblings.
The Jagannath Puri temple is unique for several reasons, but one must remember that non-Hindus and foreigners are not allowed inside the temple.
Plus, the kitchen of the temple is considered the largest in the world, where thousands of people are fed daily with ‘Mahaprasad’. The topmost flag of the temple is changed everyday, by a skilled priest, and it always flies in the opposite direction of the wind.

Every year, a time and date is decided for Rath Yatra, where Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balbhadra are taken out of their temple home in Puri, and are taken to the Gundicha temple, where they stay for the next few days. The idols of the deities are placed in massive wooden chariots, and these chariots are then pulled through the streets of Puri.
It is said that as many devotees are unable to meet Lord Jagannath in the temple, this little trip is their chance to meet the Lord.

The construction of the three chariots, one each for Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Devi Subhadra, is an elaborate and very sacred process. A new Rath is constructed every year with fresh logs of wood that are brought from specific forests in Odisha. The wood used includes Sal and Neem trees, both of which are considered holy, and the construction of the chariots begins on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.

Devotees of Lord Jagannath from around the world believe in a simple theory - One touch of the Rath, and simple efforts to pull the Rath, can grant ultimate moksha. People from across India and the world come to Puri with the hope of touching or helping pull the Rath, even if just for a few moments, and seeing Lord Jagannath on his Rath is considered a once-in-a-lifetime blessing.
It is said that looking at Lord Jagannath in the chariot, helping pull the chariot, or even touching the chariot in some way can completely change a person’s life, and help them attain salvation.

Before the Rath Yatra, an interesting tradition occurs in Puri where the Lord falls sick!
On Snana Purnima, Lord Jagannath is bathed with 108 pots of water, and this bath is believed to make him fall ill. And so the Lord goes into Anasara, a period where devotees cannot see him or meet him, and this is believed to be the time he recovers from the illness.
The priests have to apply herbal medicines to the Lord, and help him rest.