[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

"We have been organizing Rath Yatra in Puri since 2011 for Japanese tourists only. In the previous years, Japanese tourists observed the festival by pulling a chariot of Lord Jagannath. This time, we arranged a small palanquin and placed the Jagannath's idol in it. The foreigners took out a procession in Puri by shouldering the palanquin," IJFC's president Srimanta Dash told mediapersons.

Dash said he did not face any criticism for using a palanquin for Rath Yatra. "Neither we nor the foreigners showed any disrespect to the Deity," he said.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Chanting Jai Jagannath, the foreigners used their local musical instruments while taking the Lord in procession.

"It is the second time I took part in the community Rath Yatra. I brought a small drum with me to beat during the procession. I enjoyed a lot," said Nachoso Niyahara.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

On her maiden visit to Puri, Kato Lio, another Japanese visitor, said she would create a small documentary on Rath Yatra. "I first went to Grand Road and was amused to see huge crowd in front of the three chariots of Jagannath Temple. I video-graphed the moments and then participated in the community festival. I have shot the community Yatra as well," Lio said.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

When IJFC started Rath Yatra in 2011, some enthusiastic Japanese tourists built a small chariot under the guidance of a local carpenter. "We used the same chariot in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The idea of organizing the festival is to make foreigners aware of our rich tradition and culture. This will boost tourism as well," Dash said.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]