Devotees across India celebrate the annual Rath Yatra, one of the world’s oldest and largest religious processions. Idols of Hindu deities are carried through the streets on elaborately decorated chariots.
Indian devotees participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Indian devotees participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A Hindu devotee carries Hindu god Krishna on his head as he joins the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
A Hindu devotee carries Hindu god Krishna on his head as he joins the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Indian mahouts sit on decorated elephants outside the Lord Jagannath temple on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra or chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Indian mahouts sit on decorated elephants outside the Lord Jagannath temple on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra or chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Hindu devotees perform on street as they join the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Hindu devotees perform on street as they join the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
A child, centre, dressed as Hindu deity Jagannath travel on a chariot as they participate in a religious procession during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
A child, centre, dressed as Hindu deity Jagannath travel on a chariot as they participate in a religious procession during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Indian devotees raise their hands to receive offerings as they participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Indian devotees raise their hands to receive offerings as they participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) pull a rath (chariot) during the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) pull a rath (chariot) during the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) pull a rath (chariot) during the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) pull a rath (chariot) during the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
An artist performs as devotees pull a rath (chariot) during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra procession in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
An artist performs as devotees pull a rath (chariot) during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra procession in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Hindu devotee performs a ritual on the road during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
A Hindu devotee performs a ritual on the road during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
An ambulance is surrounded by pilgrims during the annual Hindu chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, in Puri, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ananya Das)
An ambulance is surrounded by pilgrims during the annual Hindu chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, in Puri, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ananya Das)
Hindu devotees cheer as they participate in the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Hindu devotees cheer as they participate in the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Body builders flex their muscles as they participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Body builders flex their muscles as they participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A Hindu devotee carrying prayer beads inside a bag while participating in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Hindu devotee carrying prayer beads inside a bag while participating in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Hindu devotees sing and dance on a street decorated with coloured powder during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Hindu devotees sing and dance on a street decorated with coloured powder during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
