Foreign tourists in Puri on Thursday. Picture by Rashbehari Das

Scores of foreign tourists were seen in the holy town on Thursday to have a glimpse of the deities aboard their chariots.

There were some like Gino Naoki and Gino Gunko, who did not want to give the festivities a miss at any cost. The Japanese couple, who got married in Puri in February, were in town to seek the Lord’s blessings. They were seen tugging a mini chariot with 20 others from their country.

Osaka ,42, a first time visitor from Japan, said that he was moved by the crowd for the annual rath yatra.

“I heard about the car festival when I was in Japan and wanted to see it myself. The air is filled with spirituality. It is amazing,” said the software professional.

Another group of tourists from Germany said they heard about the chariot festival only after they landed in the state last week.

“Our tour guide told us the story of the three divine siblings who visit their aunt’s place every year. We had to come to Puri and enjoy this unique event. The crowd and the atmosphere have made my day,” said Hansz, 33, an architect from Berlin.

Another group of three women and four men, also from Germany, were seen moving around the district hospital, close to the temple. They were awestruck by the proceedings and admitted that they had never seen such a huge religious congregation before.

“The electrifying atmosphere is unparalleled. I would love to visit Odisha, particularly Puri, during rath yatra next year too,” said Claudia Kahn, 25, the youngest member of the group.

Sources in the district tourism said that the footfall of foreigners during this rath yatra has been consistent.

“Most of the time they prefer staying indoors and not mingle with the crowd. We expect the number of foreign tourists to be around 250 to 300 at this time but the exact number can be given only after the festival,” said a senior official in the Puri district tourism office.

“We have precise details of a 60-member group from Japan who are here to pull their own chariot,” said tourist officer, Puri district, B.K. Jena.