Being a part of rath yatra has been on my bucket list for quite sometime now and I am very happy that I have finally ticked it off. I have wanted to come to this place at least once since I was a child and I feel fortunate now that it has happened.

By the grace of the Lord, I got the opportunity to work in Odisha, where I have been since the past 18 months. I have been to a lot of places - Keonjhar, Jajpur, Jharsugda, Sundargarh and other rural districts. Bhubaneswar is also beautiful. But, coming to Puri has been a long cherished dream.

The idea of people from across the globe coming together and celebrating a deity who is important for so many people has always fascinated me.

I have heard a lot about the tales and legends related to the Trinity and the temple. I have also read about them and that heightened my curiosity.

The wait since this morning was worth it. There was not a moment of tiredness or exhaustion, such is the devotion that fills the air. I was pleased to see the crowd remain calm throughout for a glimpse of the Lord and His siblings.

Every ritual associated with this festival is unique, especially the sweeping of the chariots by the king and the beautiful tahiya (backdrop made of flowers) that the idols are adorned with.

I also like the spirit of volunteerism shown by the people as well as the administration during arrangements, especially the way they control the crowd. I feel blessed that I got a chance to see the festival from so close.

Before coming to the festival, I had visited the temple last year and that was also a wonderful experience. It was not crowded at that time and I could wander around the temple with ease.

When I went inside, I was enthused by the majestic structure with its multiple complexes. The priests told me about the importance of the main structure and other small temples on the premises, apart from the history associated with it. That had increased my desire by leaps and bounds to be a part of the festival.

I still cannot believe that I am so close to Him. I could feel the presence of a higher power, which was very enlightening. I will cherish this experience throughout my life.

• The writer is a management consultant from New Delhi