First Rath Yatra at Puri
THE FIRST RATH YATRA (CAR FESTIVAL) AT PURI
In 1803 A.D. the East India Company tried to occupy Puri the seat of Lord Jagannath. The Britishers were very much aware of the importance of the Jagannath Temple “because the possession of the God has always given the domination of Orissa”. The British troops entered Puri on 18.09/1803. The importance of Puri and its Jagannath Cult for consolidation of the British rule in Orissa became most evident during the first Car festival in Puri after the British Conquest of Orissa. In July 1804 the Commissioner Harcout visited Rath Yatra.
The Car Festival, was thus systematically started after it had ceased for many years. The Raja (King) of Khurda “Mukunda Dva - II” was imprisoned and released in 1807. The King was given allowances of Rs. 2,133,33 per month and allowed to reside in his newly constructed palace at Balisahi in Puri.
