Massive devotee turnout marks Rath Yatra; chariots to renew journey on Saturday

“There is no major issue. It is not unusual for chariots to be pulled on the following day. All rituals were conducted on time. There have been no accidents or untoward incidents,” Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated.

When Lord Balabhadra’s chariot got here to a halt at Balagandi Chhak, Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan was stopped at Marichkote in Puri city. Meanwhile, Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh chariot was solely symbolically pulled as a part of the ritual and stays parked close to the primary temple.

Explaining the delay, the Minister stated, “Due to favourable weather conditions, the number of devotees was nearly one and a half times higher than usual. Those who came specifically to pull Lord Jagannath’s chariot will have the opportunity to do so tomorrow.”

The minister introduced that chariot pulling was suspended for the day at 8 pm.

He stated all of the rituals have been accomplished in accordance with the schedule.

The Pahandi and chariot pulling started on schedule, however the chariots couldn’t attain their vacation spot as a result of points with the motion of Lord Balabhadra’s chariot.

Earlier, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and lots of different dignitaries joined the devotees and have been amongst those that pulled the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra.

Amidst chanting of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Hari Bol’, beating of cymbals and blowing of trumpets and conch shells, the ‘Taladwaja’ chariot of Lord Balabhadra first began rolling at 4.08 PM. It was adopted by Devi Subhadra’s ‘Darpadalan’ chariot and eventually Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nandighosh’.

While devotees have been pulling the chariots, monks surrounded the deities on the chariots because the procession made its manner by means of the Grand Road of this temple city.

While 1000’s of individuals pulled the chariots, lakhs of others additionally reached the seaside temple city to take part within the competition.

An estimated a million devotees gathered in Puri for the annual Rath Yatra, officers stated.

The chariot pulling commenced after Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb, carried out the ritual of Chhera Pahanra .

Wooden horses of various colors have been fitted on three chariots earlier than they have been pulled by the devotees.

Earlier, the trinity — Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath — had ascended their respective chariots after over two-hour lengthy ceremonial ‘Pahandi’ ritual right here on Friday.

During ‘Pahandi’, the three picket idols have been carried to the chariots from the Twelfth-century temple.

Odissi dancers, folks artistes, musicians, and cultural troupes from throughout the state carried out earlier than the deities throughout the Pahandi procession.

The Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, together with chosen disciples, visited three chariots after the deities have been positioned on them.

The 81-year-old seer got here close to the chariots in a wheelchair. The Shankaracharya’s go to can be a part of the Rath Yatra rituals.

Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Odisha ministers and lots of others witnessed the ceremonial Pahandi, one of many main points of interest of Rath Yatra.

The competition was held amid unprecedented safety preparations with the deployment of round 10,000 personnel of Odisha Police, central armed police pressure, NSG and others.

“We made all possible arrangements for the smooth conduct of Rath Yatra,” DGP Y B Khurania advised reporters, including that over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been put in to maintain a watch on the gang. PTI COR AAM BDC RG NN AAM MNB

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