The annual Rath Yatra was observed with much fanfare in several places of Jagatsinghpur district on Sunday.
No untoward incident was reported during the festival baring a few stray incidents as the district administration and police had made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security of the devotees. Monsoon rains affected chariots pulling late on the day.
The Rath Yatra is popular in six major places in different blocks of the district such as Sidhal, Dhyana Kuda, Garei, Sarabanta, Gadakujanga and the port town of Paradip.
The festival is also observed in almost all the villages of the district. DRDA PD Biswajit Das attended the Siddhal Rath Yatra, six km from Jagatsinghpur town and performed the sweeping ritual. Nearly, 10,000 devotees form surrounding villages had congregated at the place.
At Dhyanakuda Jagannath Temple in Biridi block, chariot pulling started after 4 pm. Pramoda Nandi, the local designated king, performed the sweeping ceremony and Baba Arakhita Das coordinated the celebration.
The Jagannath temple at Garei in Naugaon block also witnessed about 5,000 devotees. For the first time this year, the Maa Subhadra chariot was pulled by women and adolescent girls. local gentleman Kedar Nath Biswal performed sweeping traditions. In the coastal Erasama block, the Rath Yatra was held at Sarabanta Jagannath Temple in Gadaharishpur gram panchayat (GP).
A huge crowd had turned up to witness the yearly auspicious occasion. Here, however, a mishap occurred during the fest when the chariot hit two women identified as Rangalata Mohapatra and Basanti Sarangi hailing from Ranapur village under Olavar GP in Balikuda block. Both were injured and admitted in hospital sustaining leg fractures, reports said.
In Paradip port town, Muslims, Christians and Hindus joined together to observe the car festival.
PPT Chairman Rinkesh Ray performed the sweeping rituals. The chariot pulling was started after 4 pm.
The most glittering Rath Yatra was observed at Kunjabihari Temple in Gadakujanga GP near Kujang where the chariot is pulled a day after the Rath Yatra.
On the day of the Rath Yatra, all rituals are performed but the deities take rest in the chariot till the next day. As per the tradition, the sweeping was performed by local MlA and
Minister Damodar Rout on Sunday.