Lord Jagannath known as Patitapaban or "saviour of the downtrodden"

Location: Puri, Odisha, India

Construction:

• Constructed in the 12th century by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty
• Known as 'Yamanika Tirtha'
• Called the "White Pagoda"

Part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram)

Unique architecture: massive compound wall, large temple complex with multiple towers, halls, and shrines

Ban on Non-Hindus:

• Only Hindus allowed inside the shrine to offer prayers to the deities in the sanctum sanctorum
• Non-Hindus barred from entering for centuries
• No clearly articulated reason for the ban
• Non-Hindus can get privilege of darshan of Patitapaban at Lion's Gate
• In 1984, servitors opposed Indira Gandhi's entry due to her marriage to a non-Hindu
• In 2005, a Thai princess was only able to view the Temple from the outside as foreigners are not allowed
• In 2006, a Swiss citizen was denied entry due to her Christian faith despite her large donation

History of attacks: Historians suggest multiple attacks by Muslim rulers might have led to the restrictions

Main attraction: Annual Rath Yatra festival where three main deities are taken out in a grand procession on a chariot

Unique food offering: Mahaprasad, prepared in the temple kitchen and distributed among the devotees.