Propelled by a sea of devotees, the journey of Lord Jagannath’s giant chariot, which is decked up immaculately each year, is a visual spectacle and a postcard image of the Rath Yatra in Odisha. Spanning for over a week, the Yatra concluded on July 19 with the chariots of the three sibling deities returning from the Gundicha Temple to their final abode in the 12th-century Jagannath Temple. While the procession's massive scale commands attention from all over the country, there's a unique facet to it that makes for a bigger celebration. In the city of Baripada, located in the Mayurbhanj district, Goddess Subhadra's chariot is pulled exclusively by an all-woman procession.

Talking about how this practice has evolved over the years, Akshita Bhanj Deo, the princess from the Royal Family of Mayurbhanj, says, "It was during the celebration of the First International Women’s Year in 1975 that the district administration of Mayurbhanj started the innovative idea to let women pull the chariot of the little sister of the two Lords—Jagannath and Balabhadra. In the subsequent years, the experiment has proved quite popular. The same practice continues to this day, and the turnout of women is increasing with every passing year."

Supported and bolstered by the royal family members and the state government authorities, the participation of women marks its 50th anniversary this year and the growing numbers only solidify the significance of women's role in Odisha's cultural and social fabric. Marking the event and noting its significance was, Odisha's Deputy Cheif Minister, Pravati Parida, was also present along the tens of thousands of women pulling the chariot.

While this specific aspect of the festival becomes a representation of the united power of women and Mayurbhanj's timeless heritage, Bhanj Deo notes the Yatra as a standout moment for highlighting the diverse subcultures the state holds within. "have actively engaged in preserving the heritage and traditions associated with the Rath Yatra. With week-long performances of Odissi, Mayurbhanj Chhau and kirtans over days, to special delicacies being prepared with royal recipes including sweets and bhog, to artisans creating handicrafts and handlooms for the multiple events, it is a platform to pay homage to rich heritage of the region."