“King Indradyumna After listening about the importance of Nilachala Dhama became interested to construct there a temple for Lord Vishnu. He worshipped Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu got satisfied with him. Then to construct the idols of the lords he got the Wood logs from Banki. All the carpenters failed to construct the idols but finally an old carpenter agreed to construct the idols. He told the king that he will construct the idols. The king agreed but the carpenter told that “with all my instruments I will be sent to the temple and the doors will be made closed after that and those will not be made open before 21 days”. The king asked him that from where he will arrange his food? The carpenter replied it that the king should not feel worried for that. Then the carpenter was sent to the temple but on the 18th day when there was no sound the king lost his patience and finally found three half constructed idols. The king, seeing this started weeping. Finally there was a voice from the sky that the king should not feel worried rather such thing has happened by the God’s mercy.

Thus after these sorts of things the day of entering into the temple came and on that Lord Brahma became the priest for the sacred “Yajna” works. After the rituals got finished, Lord Appeared there and asked Indradyumna to say what he wants? Indradyumna firstly told it that My Lord at No condition you will Live Shrikhetra and Secondly he told it that if I will have children then will demand their rights on temple so please grant me the blessing that I would not have any children. Lord granted the blessings after that the queen told it that every year you will come out of the temple to visit my house. The Lord agreed and told it that yes! That will happen and I will do that and as a result of that that festival of mine will be named by your name that is Gundicha Yatra” this is the story which people say when they are asked about the cause of Srigundicha Yatra or the car festival.

Thus in a nutshell it can be said that the car festival is a unique expression of the Jagannath culture in which not the devotee reaches to the God but the God reaches to the Devotee. Thus this festival symbolizes the existence of an emotional bond between the Lord and devotees. Really lord Jagannath is has gone associated with the Oriya life in a unique way. Because The Great Gajapati king of Odisha is his first servant. Similarly he has also appeared in different ways for different people.

He has played the role of Krishna for Manika, Kanha for Mother Yashoda; He is Patitapabana for his devotees like great Salabega, or Dasia Bauri or Karamabai. In order to show his love towards his devotees he had appeared in the sand chariot of great Balaram Das. Thus he is a great lover of his devotees. He is one in many and many in one. He is the lover of affection and devotions towards him. So in every Car festival he comes out of the temple to show the world is that God also can come out of the temple for getting love from his devotees. This year in this car festival he has come out of the temple so let’s celebrate the function with happiness joy. again we have to accept the truth that Lord Jagannath is above all religion race caste and sex. Again he is a true lover of his devotees as he never loses any chance to get closer to them. And for that this time the lord has also come out of the temple to meet his devotees who are unable to enter to Shri Mandir. So with devotion let’s say
                                                                                                                   “Jagannath Swami,

                                                                                                                                       Nayana Pathagami

                                                                                                                                                           Bhaba Tume”