Thousands of Devotees Gather for Bangladeshi Religious Procession

The festival refers to public processions involving chariots carrying Hindu deities and is popularly known as Ratha Yatra.

Ratha Yatra occurs on the second fortnight of Ashadha - the Hindu calendar month that corresponds with June/July - and lasts for the full fortnight.

Documentary photographer Md. Akhlas Uddin attended a Ratha Yatra celebration in his hometown of Sylhet City in Bangladesh.

Uddin said: “The festival is really diverse with thousands from both the Hindu and Muslim communities coming together to observe and chant and dance joyfully.

“It’s an inspiring scene that shows how even two religions with a long history of disagreement can support each other and celebrate together.”

On the festival day the deities are taken from their respective temples and carried to their individual chariots.

The deities are carried out in a set order starting with Balabhadra, Subhadra and finishing with Jagannath.

Seven deities are transported on three chariots to a temple known as Gundicha Ghar, which is three kilometres from the Jagannath Temple, where the chariots are gathered at the start of the procession.

The deities are transported between temples for various rituals, like on the tenth day when the deities are adorned with golden ornaments and dressed elaborately while their chariots are parked by the Singhadwara temple.

On the final day they are returned to their respective temples amidst thousands of devotees.