Kondh Adivasis in Koraput district of Odisha come down from the hills to Narayanpatna town to celebrate the concluding phase of the Jagannath rath yatra . That last day is known as Bahuda yatra –  marking the return of Lord Jagannath’s rath (chariot) to his temple. The three friends, aged between 14-16, are strolling around the festival area.

Photo: P. Sainath, July 2, 2009, Nikon D 300.

P. Sainath is Founder Editor, People's Archive of Rural India. He has been a rural reporter for decades and is the author of 'Everybody Loves a Good Drought' and 'The Last Heroes: Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom'.

Other stories by P. Sainath