Millions throng Puri for Rath Yatra

Braving the scorching heat and later rain in the afternoon, lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad thronged the holy town of Puri to witness the annual car festival of Lord Jagannath.

Three richly decorated chariots carrying the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subahdra rolled on the Grand Road (Badadanda), the three kilometers stretch from the Singhadwar to the Gundicha Temple, after the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Dibyasingha Deb swept the floor of each of the chariots with a golden broom (a ritual called Cherra Pahanra).

Earlier, in the day, the deities were brought one after the other in a swaying movement (called Pahandi) from the sanctum sanctorum (Shree Mandir) by the priests and servitors amidst the chanting of bhajans, beating of cymbals, drums and blowing of conch shells.

Devotees occupied every conceivable space of the Grand Road to have glimpse of the deities. Sources said, around one million devotees visited Puri for this annual fest.

Security personnel were deployed in strength to avoid any untoward incidents. In total, 104 platoons of police, six platoons of Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and sharp shooters were deployed at vital points while the Coast Guard kept a vigil on the sea front.

The deities are on nine day sojourn to the Gundicha temple, located about three kilometres from the Lords' abode at Jagannath temple. The convention being not to pull chariots after sun set, the chariots, which could not reach the destination before evening, have been parked at different points on the Grand Road. The pulling will restart tomorrow.

The deities will be taken inside the Gundicha Temple tomorrow and will remain there before being carried back in the Return Car Festival (Bahuda Yatra) on July 18 to their original abode.

Odisha governor SC Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik, cabinet ministers were among the dignitaries who attended the car festival.