The annual Rath Yatra was observed with much fanfare in several parts across Jagatsinghpur district on Saturday.
No untoward incident was reported during the festival as the administration and police had made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security of the devotees and visitors.
Sources said that the Rath Yatra is popular in six major places under different blocks of the district like Sidhal, Dhyana Kuda, Garei, Sarabanta, Gadakujang and the port town of Paradip. In all these places, big Jagannath temples exist.
The festival is also observed in almost all the villages of the district where devotees also pulled small chariots with much gusto.
District Collector BK Upadhaya attended the Sidhal Rath Yatra, six km away from Jagatsinghpur town, and performed the Chhera Panhara (sweeping ritual) after which the chariot was pulled. Reports said that nearly 20,000 devotees from surrounding villages had witnessed the festival.
The festival was celebrated in Dhyanakuda Jagannath temple in Biridi block. Chariot pulling started after 4 pm. local designated king Pramoda Nandi performed the sweeping ceremony and Baba Arakhita Das coordinated the celebration. Thousands of devotees thronged to witness the event.
The Jagannath temple at Garei in Naugaon block also witnessed turnout of about 15,000 devotees. Kedar Nath Biswal, the Thakur Raja of the temple, performed sweeping of chariots. The pulling started after 5 pm. In coastal Erasama block, the Rath Yatra was celebrated in Sarabanta Jagannath temple in Gadaharishpur Panchayat. Reports said that a huge crowd from surrounding villages congregated to participate in the annual festival.
The Rath Yatra was also celebrated in a big way in the port town of Paradip. PPT Deputy Chairman N Vayapuri performed the sweeping ritual of the chariot following which the devotees pulled the chariot at 3pm. The deities reached at the Mausi Maa temple in Madhuban as per schedule.
The most glittering Rath Yatra was observed at Kunjabihari temple in Gadakujang panchayat near Kujang where the chariot was pulled on Sunday instead of Saturday as per the tradition. On the day of the Rath Yatra all rituals are performed and the deities take rest in the chariot till the next day when the journey starts with pulling by devotees.
The sweeping ritual was performed by Excise Minister and Paradip MlA Damodar Rout on Saturday evening.
In view of the tension due to the volatility over the Posco project in the area, elaborate security arrangements had been made.
No untoward incident was reported in the festival where thousands joined.