Bhubaneswar: Chariots were rolled at various places in the Capital city with festive fervour on the occasion of Rath Yatra, Sunday. Hundreds of devotees gathered at prominent places and pulled the splendidly adorned chariots with chants and hymns filling the air. The rain that lashed the City in the afternoon could not dampen the enthusiasm of devotees who milled around chariots and sought blessings of deities.
The Capital witnessed celebrations at more than 50 places. Major events were organised at Patiagarh, VSS Nagar, Old Town, Jagamara, Utkal University campus, Regional College of Management, Bhimatangi, Dumduma, Baramunda, Niladri Vihar, Laxmisagar and OUAT. On this joyous occasion, a large number of devotees assembled at Shrivani Kshetra of KISS and took part in religious ceremonies like Mangala Arati, Mailama, Tadapalagi, Rosha Homa, Abakasha and Surya Puja. Thereafter, devotees pulled forward the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra up to the newly-built Gundicha Temple near KIIT-Sikharchandi Road. The chariot of Devi Subhadra was pulled by women devotees only. All rituals were performed as per the traditions of Puri Srimandir.
For the construction of the three beautiful chariots, special ‘bindhani’, ‘maharana’ and ‘chitrakara’ were engaged by the temple trust. Starting from chariot construction to all activities including ‘niti’ and ‘puja’, were done with the consultation and guidance by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingha Deba. Festival organisers informed that during the nineday festival, ‘Bhajan Samaroh’ will be held every evening near Gundicha temple. Similarly, Utkal University also celebrated the Rath Yatra on university premises. The ritual of sweeping the chariots was done by Utkal University VC Sabita Acharya. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple at Nayapalli was one of the major attractions in the City. The temple celebrated the festival in a grand way. Three chariots of the deities were pulled from the temple front to ISKCON’s Mausima temple at Unit VIII.