Ritual to replace idols at Jagannath Temple ends

The ancient ritual of carrying wood 'Daru' for creating a new set of idols for the famed Lord Jagannath Temple ended in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Lakhs of devotees pulled the chariot carrying 'Daru' for the new idols.

A devotee, Kanhu Aggarwal, said this journey sought to convey the message that nothing in this world is immortal.

"The main message behind the Banajaga journey is that anybody who comes into this world will leave one day, and if the bodies of humans change, then even god's body will change," said Aggarwal.

"I had come here to get a glimpse of Lord Jagannath. 'Daru' has arrived here and the devotees who have come here from far and wide are very happy and excited. I left early in the morning to come here with a lot of wishes in my heart, and I hope, that Lord Jagannath will fulfill them all," said Sangram Mahanty, another devotee.

Devotees converged from all corners of India and abroad to get a glimpse of the sacred wood and to be a part of the magnificent journey which began on May 14 from Jagatsingpur District in Odisha.

Devotees of Lord Jagannath were seen dancing during the procession, with some dressed up in various garbs, as the cart moved along amid a massive security cordon.

More than 15,000 police personnel were deployed by the state government as the cart passed through several districts.