PURI: The nine-day Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath began on a colourful note on Tuesday with over 10 lakh devotees from across different parts of the country and abroad thronging the pilgrim city Puri to pull the chariots of the deities.
As scheduled by the Jagannath Temple administration, the deities were brought on the chariots in Pahandi or procession by the temple priests after performance of morning rituals. The chanting of ‘Jai Jagannath’ by the priests and devotees filled the sky with an air of spiritualism. The playing of numerous musical instruments like bells, cymbals and mridangam added to the spiritually charged atmosphere.
The devotees will pull the chariots in the afternoon after the ritual of Chhera Panhara or sweeping ceremony by Gajapati King Divyasingha Deb is performed.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of the festival. As many as 180 platoons of security forces, including Rapid Action Force, have been deployed to ensure law and order. The Indian Navy and Air Force are guarding the city. While interceptor vessels have been deployed in the nearby Bay of Bengal, the Indian Air Force's helicopters have been guarding the city from above in the sky.
Also known as Car Festival, Rath Yatra marks the annual journey of Lord Jagannath and His siblings – elder brother Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – from Srimandir to Gundicha Mandir for a sojourn of nine days.
Gundicha Mandir is the aunt’s place of Lord Jagannath.
After spending nine days at their aunt’s place, the deities return to Srimandir. The return journey is known as Bahuda Yatra.
The sea of devotees jostled to have a glimpse of the deities on the chariots. There is a deep-rooted belief that a darshan of the deities on the chariots help devotees to get freedom from rebirth by absolving them of all their wrongdoings and guilt.
A host of dignitaries, including Odisha governor Professor Ganeshi Lal, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw; several state ministers, chief secretary P K Jena, judges and senior government officials are present in the city to witness the majestic spiritual journey of Lord Jagannath and His siblings.
