Scotching all speculation about non-observance of the annual Chandan Yatra this year, the administration ensured it on the Akshaya Tritiya on Monday after the holy Narendra Puskarani, which was dried up for months for renovation, was filled up with water to facilitate the festival.
As usual, after observance of the morning rituals of the deities, the 21-day-long summer water sport festival, popularly known as the Chandan Yatra of the Shree Jagannath, began in the evening.
Madanmohan, the representative image of Shree Jagannath accompanied by five Shiva images, enjoy the boating in the huge Narendra Tank to beat the summer heat.
This year’s delay in the beginning of this fete was attributed to lack of concerted actions of the various servitor communities responsible to perform the rituals on time.
The day proceedings of the fete (Dina Chapa) could not be observed on Monday as the ceremonial procession reached at the festival site (the tank) late in the evening. The temple administration was hopeful to conduct the day proceedings soon.
The deities on board the decorated palanquins were carried over the shoulders of a special set of servitors known as Biman Badu. The temple musicians recited notes of Geeta Gobinda and Odissi Bhajans.