The stage is all set for the grand annual Rath Yatra or the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 7, in the holy city of Puri in Odisha.Today, finishing touches were given to the three huge chariots of the Lords and they were pulled from Ratha Khala to Singhadwara of Puri Srimandir, from where their annual sojourn will begin. The Rath Yatra, observed on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha month of the Hindu calendar every year, is the most important festival of Jagannath temple when the holy triad embarks on the annual nine-day stay at their birthplace, Gundicha Temple, the Yagnya Vedi or the Garden house of the Lord around three kilometres far from the Jagannath Temple.The devotees cutting across all the sects and creeds get a glimpse of the divine siblings during the Rath Yatra.This year’s Rath Yatra is unique and rare which will be celebrated for two days, i.e on July 7 and 8. In view of this, a decision was taken to declare the day after Rath Yatra as a holiday.CM Majhi during the review meeting on Rath Yatra in Puri on Tuesday sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders including servitors, district administration and the local public for smooth and hassle-free conduct of the Rath Yatra festival.Such a situation last occurred in 1971 around 53 years ago when Nava Youvan Darshan, Netrotsav and Rath Yatra fell on the same day.