Idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra were manufactured in Puri for a temple in Philadelphia, America. Before being sent to America, the idols were worshipped at a spiritual conference in Khandagiri and then returned to the manufacturers. However, one of the organisers of the conference had a dream where Lord Jagannath asked them to keep the idols with them. The organisers rushed to Puri to retrieve the idols and were surprised to find that they couldn’t be sent to America due to their size. The idols were then kept in the prayer hall of Sibananda Boys’ High School in Khandagiri. The Jagannath temple was constructed within three months and the deities were later shifted to the temple in 2001. Since then, Rath Yatra has been observed annually.
As preparations for the Rath Yatra begin, chariots are being repaired and painted by a group of carpenters and artists. The chariot-making process follows the rituals of the Puri Jagannath temple and starts about 10 days before the festival. The chariot of goddess Subhadra has traditionally been pulled by women devotees. People from nearby areas participate in the annual sojourn of the deities, with the chariots being pulled to Sudharma Ashrama, which serves as the Mausima temple. This temple was chosen as the deities’ visitation spot during Rath Yatra through a prayerful walk conducted by a Swamiji.
During Rath Yatra, an annual magazine called ‘Jagannathayan’ is published, which focuses on Jagannath culture and the experiences of devotees. Apart from the Rath Yatra, all other festivals of Lord Jagannath are observed throughout the year in the temple following the rituals of the Puri Jagannath temple.