The Chandrabagcha beach, which is located in Konark, the home of the beautiful Sun Temple, is noted for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets. It's also known as Konark Beach, and it's one of the best beaches on the east coast, as well as one of the most prominent Konark tourist attractions. A lighthouse at Chandrabhaga adds to the charm of this location.
It is 30 kilometres from Puri. Chandrabhaga was once thought to be a natural remedy for lepers. According to mythology, Sambha, Lord Krishna's son, prayed to the Sun God here and was healed of leprosy thanks to the latter's blessings. As a result, the beach holds significant spiritual significance in Odisha.
The Chandrabhaga River, which meets the sea here, is called after the Konark Sea Beach. The Konark Beach is one of the most beautiful spots to visit in Konark, with its long stretch of sylvan sands and soothing blue sea rushing in, undulating waves. A relaxing stroll along the beach is a delightful experience. Beach activities such as sunbathing, surfing, and others are available to visitors. Though this is a beautiful area for sunbathing, swimming is dangerous due to strong currents.
The yearly Magha Saptami Mela, a seven-day celebration, is well-known in Konark Beach. Every year on the 7th full moon day of Magha Month, numerous travellers flock to this beach to take a swim in the sea and give prayers to the Sun God. It's also home to the world-famous "International Sand Art Festival," where renowned sand artists from all over the world gather to display their work. A big number of tourists and residents attend the five-day celebration.
Puri's economy is mostly reliant on tourism, with tourism accounting for over 80% of the city's revenue. The temple serves as the city's focal centre and provides employment to the locals. The temple's large requirements are met by the region's agricultural produce of rice, ghee, vegetables, and other items. Many towns in the surrounding area serve solely to the temple's other religious needs. The ceremonies are performed by 6,000 men employed by the temple management.
Every year, Puri hosts 24 festivals, 13 of which are noteworthy. The most important of these is the Ratha Yatra, or automobile festival, which takes place in June–July and attracts over a million people. The Jagannatha Temple triad are normally worshipped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri, but once during the month of Asadha (Orissa's rainy season), they are brought out on the Puri's main street. The Ratha Yatra, or chariot excursion (yatra), is the name given to this festival.
Puri has been selected as one of the heritage cities for the Government of India's Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme.
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The Rigveda, Matsya Purana, Brahma Purana, Kapila Purana and Niladrimahodaya are some of the few of the historic titles for Puri, the holy land of Jagannatha, also known by the popular vernacular name Srikshetram. It is referenced in the Rigveda as Purushamandama-grama, which means the spot where the Supreme Divinity, the Creator deity of the world, was deified on an altar or mandapa along the coast and prayers were presented with Vedic hymns.
Purushottama was the name given to it by Moghul ruler Akbar in his Ain-i-Akbari and later Muslim historical sources. Purushottama is also mentioned in the Sanskrit drama Anargha Raghava Nataka, written in the 8th century AD by dramatist Murari Mishra. Puri became known by the shorter form of Jagannatha Puri, named after the god, or in a short form as Puri, until in the 12th century AD. It is the only shrine in India where Radha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Bhudevi, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti reside alongside Krishna, also known as Jagannatha.
Purushottama Puri was eventually abbreviated to Puri, and the Purusha became known as Jagannatha. Sages like as Bhrigu, Atri, and Markandeya had hermitages near this location. Different names given to it, depending on the god worshipped. Puri, on the other hand, is the most widely used term. Shankhakshetra (the town's layout is in the shape of a conch shell), Neelchala, Neelchalakshetra, and Neeldri are all names given to it because of its geographical location. The Sanskrit term "Puri" means "town or city" and is related to the Greek word polis.
Construction on the current Jagannatha Temple began in 1136 AD and was finished in the late 12th century. Anangabhima III, the Eastern Ganga king, devoted his kingdom to Lord Jagannatha, then known as the Purushottama-Jagannatha, and declared that he and his descendants would govern under "divine order as Jagannatha's sons and vassals" from then on.
Even though princely kingdoms no longer exist in India, the Gajapati dynasty of Khurda's heirs continue to conduct the temple's ritual responsibilities; the king publicly cleanses the road in front of the chariots before the Ratha Yatra begins. Cherra Pahanra is the name of this rite.
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