Jagannath Temple

King Indradyumna had a vision of the divine form of Vishnu and became obsessed with enshrining it. He was guided to the shore where a massive blue log floated in from the ocean. From this log, the gods would take form. The divine architect Vishwakarma (disguised as an old carpenter named Ananta Maharana) agreed to carve the idols — but only on one condition: he must work behind closed doors, and no one should disturb him for 21 days.

The king agreed. But as days passed, an ominous silence filled the workshop — no sounds of chiseling, no hammering. After 14 days, the queen, desperate to know what was happening, convinced the king to open the doors. The moment the doors opened, Vishwakarma vanished, leaving the three idols — Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra — incomplete. Their arms were unfinished, their features rough. But a divine voice declared: "This is my true form. Install me as I am."

This is why the Jagannath idols look unlike any other Hindu deity — they have enormous round eyes, no ears, and stubby, unfinished arms. Every 12 to 19 years, during the secret Nabakalebara ceremony, the old wooden idols are buried and new ones are carved from a specially chosen Neem tree that glows from within. What is transferred from old idol to new is the Brahma Padartha — a mysterious object inside the idol that no one has ever seen or is allowed to see. The priest who transfers it is blindfolded and his hands are wrapped in cloth.

The annual Rath Yatra sees three gigantic chariots — the largest standing 45 feet tall with 16 wheels — pulled through the streets by thousands of devotees. The English word "juggernaut" comes from "Jagannath" — a testament to the unstoppable force of these colossal chariots.

Built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva in the 12th century. The flag atop the temple always flies in the opposite direction of the wind — a phenomenon still unexplained.

The grand Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and largest religious festivals in the world. The word "juggernaut" derives from Jagannath.

Kalinga architecture with a towering 214-foot Vimana topped by the Sudarshana Chakra and the Neela Chakra flag. The flag always flutters against the wind direction.