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RATHYATRA
(Orissa)
This spectacular chariot festival is held at the famous Jagannath Temple atPuri. Images of Lordjagannam, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in procession in three chariots to their summer temple for a week. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16wheels. The ropes of the huge chariots are pulled by millions of devotees who also believe that this act bestows salvation upon them.
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GURU PURNIMA
(All Over India)
A special worship is performed on this day to all teachers and is called Guru Purnima. Worship of the great Vyasa, the author of the great epic, Mahabharata, is a part of the celebration. On this day students visit their elders, teachers and guides in order to show respect to them with gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets. These gifts are called gurudakshina. Discourses are held in community gatherings to hear the readings of the holy book, Bhagwad Gita.
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