Puri: The sibling deities of Jagannath Temple embarked on the nine-day annual sojourn as the chariots rolled on Bada Danda (the Grand Road) of Odisha’s Puri, teeming with devotees, around 3.04 pm on Tuesday.
Lord Balabhadra is leading the chariot procession riding Taladhwaja amid chants of “Jai Jagannath”, “Hari Bol” and the clanging of cymbals at the pilgrim town. Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalana was pulled towards the Gundicha Temple, around 3 km away from Srimandir, around 3.55 pm, followed by Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha.
The rituals for Rath Yatra began early this morning with Mangala Aalati, followed by Mailama, Tadapa Lagi, Abakasha, Gopal Ballava, Sakala Dhoopa and Ratha Pratishta. The Lords were then brought to the chariots in Pahandi Bije. The Chita Lagi ritual was then conducted.
Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati paid obeisance to the sibling deities on their chariots. As per the protocol, the Shankaracharya moved from one chariot to another, accompanied by his disciples and servitors. While one person moved ahead of the seer sprinkling sacred water, the three others stood guard in three different directions. This is because no one can touch the Shankaracharya as he is considered as an incarnation of lord Shiva.
Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb arrived in ‘Tamjan’ (a palanquin with a hood) in a procession from his royal palace. He was escorted to the chariots by the servitors. He then conducted the Chhera Panhara ritual using a broom with a gold-plated handle as servitors sprinkled water on the chariots.
After completion of the rituals, the servitors then removed the Charamala (wooden ladder) and put up the wooden horses on the chariots, following which the Yatra of the Lords began.
Around 6,000 police personnel of state police and 180 personnel of Rapid Action Force have been deployed in Puri for smooth conduct of the festival. In view of the prevailing heatwave, the administration has procured around 40 lakh water bottles for free distribution among devotees. Adequate healthcare facilities have been set up to attend to devotees if they suffer a heatstroke. Six water mist machines have also been deployed to sprinkle water on devotees at Bada Danda.
