That Buddhism and Hinduism have successfully managed to retain its ancient bond and respect for each other is strongly manifested in the nine-day celebration of rath yatra. A group of Japanese tourists and devotees of Lord Jagannath are set to roll a handcrafted miniature rath in the holy town.

According to a Buddhist belief, Buddha was an avatar of Lord Jagannath. The three deities of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra have another similarity with the Buddhist belief — Jagannath is Buddha, Subhadra is Dharma and Balabhadra is Sangha. Because of this connection, the rath yatra holds a special significance to many followers of Buddhism.

Buddhists from several countries have flocked Puri to witness the mega event and get an opportunity to get a glimpse of the Lord, touch the chariot and even have the privilege to pull the ropes, since they are not allowed to enter the temple the rest of the year.

Though the crowd and commotion around the three chariots stop many from pulling the ropes of the ‘real’ chariot, that does not deter them from celebrating the festival.

The Japanese devotees have set up a small home of their own at Pentacota in the city. Every year, a month prior to the rath yatra, Japanese from Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka and Nara assemble at the Pentacota cottage and make arrangements and preparations for a mini rath yatra.

The Japanese devotees of Lord Jagannath build three chariots, usually four feet six inches tall and two feet wide. The boys are entrusted with the task of building the chariots and the girls to decorate them. The Japanese servitors wear the traditional dhoti and punjabis and girls dress up in churidars during the festival. Around 40-50 foreigners of different nationalities, who usually prefer to avoid the crowd, join this mini yatra. This rath is pulled to Chakra Tirtha Road from Pentacota.

“There are lot of similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism. Our religion has a strong connection with Lord Jagannath and we Japanese are adherent followers of Lord Jagannath. That is why I make it a point to come every year for Puri rath yatra,” said Naoto Sakamoto, a devotee.

This union of two cultures and religion accentuates and glorifies the yatra.