Sea of humanity:Devotees flock around the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra before the start of the Rath Yatra
in Puri on Tuesday.
BHUBANESWAR: About eight lakh devotees thronged the coastal town of Puri on Tuesday morning to witness the annual sojourn of three deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, on three majestic chariots from the 12th-century Sri Mandir to the Sri Gundicha Temple.
From the morning, lakhs of devotees started arriving in the town. A few hundred priests performed a series of intricate rituals to prepare the deities for the yatra. The three chariots reached Sri Gundicha Temple covering 3 km on Grand Road.
Lakhs of devotees gathered near Jagannath temples in their localities to celebrate Rath Yatra and actively participated in pulling chariots across the State on Tuesday as well.
No devotee wanted to miss the chance as it was considered most important day to catch a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
At Puri, people braved the scorching sun and kept watching the deities.
Every movement of chariots was being cheered by devotees who had occupied every conceivable position along the three-km-stretch road.
Many were dancing in ecstasy and shouting ‘Haribol' and ‘Jai Jagannath' as the atmosphere was filled with religious fervour.
People wearing dress of different hues made their way to Puri town during the day to witness yatra.
Excitement
Waves of excitement witnessed among devotees by mere talk of deities becoming visible.
From the morning devotees continued to gaze at the entrance of the 12th-century-old Sri Mandir to see huge wooden idols being taken out of the temple.
The ritual is described as ‘pahandi'.
As per tradition, Puri's designated king Gajapati Divyasingha Deb performed ritualistic sweeping on three chariots.
Although the magnitude of car festival was not the same as of Puri atmosphere was no less electrifying amidst playing of cymbals and beating of drums in other parts of the State.
Devotees were competing among themselves to touch ropes with which chariots were being pulled.
They believe that touching of ropes would wipe out their sins.
“It was the day when millions of people could be found either glued to their television sets watching direct telecast of car festival in Puri or participating in the local Rath Yatras,” Surendra Kumar Mishra, a retired government employee said.
Hundreds of devotees turned up to witness Rath Yatra at International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple, car festival near KISS, Vani Vihar and in other localities of the capital city.
Traffic was regulated at many places to facilitate pulling of chariots on the road.
Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik witnessed the grand spectacle at Puri. The Rath Yatra festival was also organised in several prominent towns of the State during the day.
MAY LORD JAGANNATH BLESS THIS ENTIRE UNIVERSE WITH HIS KINDNESS.
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