The Bhagavad Gita is the most important scripture that crystallizes the essence of Hinduism. Here's the English translation.
The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, his incarnations descend on earth to restore peace.
Every year in mid-summer, Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, goes on vacation, traveling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his garden palace in the countryside. This belief of the Hindus has given rise to one of the biggest religious festivals in India — the Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival. This is also the etymological origin of the English word 'Juggernaut'. This year Rath Yatra falls on July 4.©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
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