Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are associated with which festival of Odisha?

The Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) of Puri, Odisha, is a grand festival in which the deities Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra are taken out of the Jagannath Temple in three huge wooden chariots. It is held on the second day of the bright half of the month of Ashadha (June-July).

Each deity rides a different chariot, built new every year according to ancient rules:

• Nandighosa, the chariot of Jagannath, is about 45 feet high, has 16 wheels and is covered in red and yellow cloth.
• Taladhwaja, the chariot of Balabhadra, has 14 wheels and is covered in red and green cloth.
• Darpadalana, the chariot of Subhadra, has 12 wheels and is covered in red and black cloth.

Lakhs of devotees pull the chariots with thick ropes along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away, believed to be the home of the deities' aunt. Before the chariots move, the Gajapati King of Puri sweeps the chariots with a golden broom, a ritual called Chhera Pahanra, showing that all are equal before the Lord. The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for seven days and return to the main temple in the Bahuda Yatra. The word "juggernaut" in English is derived from Jagannath, referring to the huge, unstoppable chariot.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Raja Parba is a three-day festival of Odisha celebrating womanhood and the earth, in June.
• ✗Nuakhai is the festival of new rice in western Odisha.
• ✗Bali Jatra is the trade fair at Cuttack that recalls the voyages to Bali.