Puri: The Rath Yatra began on Tuesday morning with chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Haribol’ from the 12th-century world-famous Jagannath temple in Odisha’s coastal pilgrimage town of Puri. Devotees in large numbers pulled the chariots of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra towards their alternate abode Gundicha Temple, 2.5 km away.
The three wooden chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, about 45 feet high, were pulled by thousands of men, while lakhs of people thronged to touch them, offer prayers or watch the massive rath yatra. Governor Ganeshi Lal and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik symbolically started the Rath Yatra by pulling the ropes connecting the main Jagannath chariot.
Amidst the sounds of brass chimes and drums, priests surround the deity chariots as the rath yatra moves slowly down the main road of the temple town. Amid chants of Jai Jagannath and Haribol, devotees were eager to catch a glimpse of the Rath Yatra. The Rath Yatra is considered a holy occasion by most Hindus, especially Vaishnavas.
An estimated 10 lakh devotees throng the city for the annual Rath Yatra. Most of the devotees were from Odisha and neighboring states, while many people from abroad also gathered to participate in this world-famous Rath Yatra. Earlier in the day, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasinha Deva of Puri swept the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings, cleaning them before they were pulled by devotees.
Dressed in white and brought in a silver palanquin, Divyasinha Deva of the Puri royal family mounted the chariots in turn and swept the floors of the chariots using a golden-handled broom. During this, the priests sprinkle flowers and scented water. Before the rath yatra begins, various groups sing kirtans and dance in front of the chariot. The district administration and police have made elaborate security arrangements to make the Rath Yatra a success.
The annual Rathjatra, marking the nine-day stay of Lord Jagannath, is held every year on the second day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha (June–July) according to the Hindu calendar. After the king has cleaned the chariots and gone to the palace, wooden horses colored brown, black, and white are put into the three chariots and sevadars direct the devotees to pull the chariot in the right direction.
Ranjan Kumar Das, the chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), said, “The enthusiasm among all, including the sevaks serving the Lord, was palpable and the rituals were completed ahead of time. The elder brother Lord Balabhadra came out of the temple first, followed by Goddess Subhadra and later Lord Jagannath himself. Lord Balabhadra sat on the Taladhwaj chariot, while Lord Jagannath sat on the chariot named Nandighosh, and Goddess Subhadra sat on the Darpadalan chariot. Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati was also present at the beginning of the Rath Yatra.
Officials said some people while pulling the chariot fell at Marichkot Chowk when Lord Balabhadra’s chariot was passing by. He said that five of them were taken to the hospital for treatment. He said that these persons were brought to the hospital using a special corridor made to take patients to medical centers through the congested route.
President of India Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and others greeted devotees on the occasion of Rath Yatra. In view of the hot and humid weather, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the devotees.
