The Nabakalebara ritual, associated with the Rath Yatra, is held at:

"Nabakalebara" (or "Navakalevara") is a ritual held at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, in which the wooden idols of the deities are replaced with new ones. It is followed by the Rath Yatra of that year.

About Nabakalebara:

• The word means "new body" ("naba" = new, "kalebara" = body).
• The wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan are made of neem wood ("daru").

The ritual is held in a year that has an extra month ("adhika masa", "Adhika Ashadha") in the Hindu lunar calendar. This usually happens every 8, 12 or 19 years.

Special neem trees ("daru") are identified through a sacred search called "Banajaga Yatra", following signs such as the trees bearing marks of a conch, a wheel, a mace and a lotus, and being located near water, a cremation ground or an anthill.

The old idols are buried in "Koili Baikuntha", a sacred area inside the temple, and the "Brahma Padartha" (life substance) is transferred to the new idols in a secret ritual by the "Daitapati" servitors.

The most recent Nabakalebara was held in 2015, the first of the 21st century; the previous one was in 1996. About 50 lakh devotees attended the Rath Yatra that year.

The next is expected in the 2030s, depending on the calendar.

About the Rath Yatra:

• It is held every year on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha (June-July).
• The three deities are taken from the main temple in huge wooden chariots to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away, and return after nine days (the return journey is called "Bahuda Yatra").
• The chariots are: "Nandighosa" (Jagannath; 16 wheels), "Taladhwaja" (Balabhadra; 14 wheels) and "Darpadalana" (Subhadra; 12 wheels).
• New chariots are built every year from specific types of wood.
• The King of Puri (Gajapati) sweeps the chariots with a golden broom; this ritual is called "Chhera Pahanra".
• The English word "juggernaut" comes from "Jagannath", from the image of the huge chariots.
• "Snana Purnima" (bathing festival) is held before the Rath Yatra, after which the deities are believed to fall ill and rest for about 15 days ("Anasara").
• Rath Yatras are also held in many other cities in India and abroad, such as Ahmedabad (one of the largest), Kolkata and by ISKCON worldwide.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Mathura is associated with Krishna's birthplace and Janmashtami.
• ✗Dwarka is a Char Dham site associated with Krishna.
• ✗Guruvayur has a famous Krishna temple in Kerala.