The eight day long spectacular Rathyatra or chariot festival of Lord Jagannath began today with religious fervor. The festival celebrates the annual visit of the God to his birthplace.The Jagannath Temple at Puri in Orissa is the venue for all celebrations. Several lakh people converge at Puri for this festival as they believe that a glimpse of Lord Jagannath in his chariot gives salvation. Images of Jagannath, as Lord Krishna is known, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, are taken in giant chariots to Gundicha Ghar. They stay there for a week and then return to the temple.In Ahmedabad, Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began this morning from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area amidst tight security as devotees jostled to have the first glimpse of the deity. The Rathyatra is taken out at 110 places in Gujarat, and the procession in Ahmedabad has the longest tradition.