In most villages across Odisha, Lord Jagannath resides in a temple throughout the year. But in the remote village of Khuripani in Balangir district, the Lord has no permanent abode. There is no temple, no sanctum, and no daily rituals. Yet, once every year, the entire village comes alive with devotion as Mahaprabhu arrives as an honoured guest.

For nearly 250 years, Khuripani has been celebrating a remarkable two-day Rath Yatra unlike any other. As the annual festival begins, villagers travel nearly three kilometres through forests, streams and rugged terrain to the neighbouring Brahmanipali village. There, they receive the idol of Lord Jagannath with reverence and carry Him on their shoulders back to Khuripani.

The moment the Lord enters the village, celebrations begin. Instead of the towering multi-wheeled chariots seen in Puri and elsewhere, Lord Jagannath is seated on a single-wheeled chariot—a rare tradition that has survived the test of time. Pulled through every lane of the village, the unique chariot becomes the centrepiece of a festival that unites all 80 families of Khuripani.

For just two days, the Lord stays in the village before returning to Brahmanipali on Navami. Though brief, the visit is enough to transform the quiet tribal-dominated settlement into a vibrant centre of faith, festivity and togetherness.

The tradition is carefully preserved by the ‘Gauntia family’, which has been organising the festival for four generations. According to the present Gauntia, Ramesh Sahu, the origins of the festival can be traced back to his great-grandfather Rajendra Sahu.

Rajendra Sahu shared a close friendship with the then Gauntia of Ghens village, where he was often invited to witness the annual Rath Yatra. What fascinated him most was its unusual one-wheeled chariot. Inspired by the unique design, he returned to Khuripani and had a similar chariot built beneath a banyan tree behind his house. Initially used as a symbolic play chariot by children, it gradually became the centre of a full-fledged Rath Yatra.

In the early years, idols of the Chaturdha Murti were brought from Talpali village for the festival. Although there were later attempts to install permanent deities in Khuripani, the plan never materialised. Today, only Lord Jagannath is ceremonially brought from Brahmanipali every year, keeping the centuries-old custom alive.

Village elder Tikeman Chhatar recalls seeing the one-wheeled chariot since his childhood. Standing nearly 15 feet tall, the chariot balances on a single centrally mounted wheel measuring 11 inches in width with a 40-inch circumference. Remarkably, despite being built without modern engineering knowledge, the structure has continued to function safely for generations.

With no temple in the village, Lord Jagannath is accommodated in the local government school during His two-day stay. The school transforms into a temporary shrine, drawing devotees from nearby villages who gather to offer prayers and seek blessings.

For the people of Khuripani, the festival is much more than a religious celebration. It is a symbol of unity, identity and shared heritage. Every household participates in welcoming the Lord, preparing offerings and organising the rituals. The annual visit of Mahaprabhu binds the village together like one extended family.

Villagers including Achyutananda Sahu, Abhi Putel, Banchhabat Dandsena, Abhimanyu Sahu and Gunanidhi Sahu say they spend the entire year waiting for these two precious days, when Lord Jagannath leaves His own village to bless theirs—not as a resident deity, but as a cherished guest.

In an era when many age-old customs are fading away, Khuripani's one-wheeled Rath Yatra continues to roll forward, carrying with it nearly two and a half centuries of faith, history and an extraordinary bond between a village and its beloved Lord.