Incessant rain since Friday night caused havoc in this pilgrim city with devotees entering the Gundicha Temple to view the Sandhya Darshan of the lords being worst-affected.
Compared to other years, a few people entered the Gundicha Temple to view the last darshan of the lords on the Adap Mandap. The whole Sharadhabali, a vast landscape near the Gundicha Temple, was waterlogged as rains continued to lash. The three chariots landing at the Nakachana Dwar readied for the Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival) on Sunday too were dipped in the rainwater. Even water came up to a few inches below their axles.
From the lions’ Gate to the Gundicha Temple, the entire 2.5-km Bada Danda (Grand Road) posed an oceanic look with movements of people almost nil. Besides, all shops and business establishments on Grand Road remained shut the whole day.
From early morning on Saturday, the city residents remained indoors due to continuous downpour for two days. Not only was the Bada Danda, many other areas also lay submerged.
The bus and taxi services to other areas from Puri were hit with a few motorists plying on the road. Schools and colleges also remained closed as Saturday was declared a holiday by the State Government.
Meanwhile, looking at the Bahuda Yatra, the district administration has cancelled Sunday as a holiday for the line officials.
Due to heavy rain in Brahmagiri, water entered into the sanctum sanctorum of the Alarnath Temple by affecting visits of pilgrims. Few visitors walked into the temple in knee-dip water for darshan of the deity. As per Met Department survey, Puri received maximum of 322 mm rains on the day.
The weather forecaster has also predicted a heavy to heavier downpour in next 24 hours. Due to low pressure, the fishing communities in Puri, Konark, Astarang, Satapada, besides other coastal pockets of the district, were advised not to venture into the sea.
As Bahuda Yatra would begin on Sunday, devotees were in apprehension of waterlogging on the Badadanda, should rain continue non-stop. They feared the rain might pose a tall hurdle to the chariot pulling.
In such an eventuality, it would not only hit the return journey of the lords, it might create trouble as well to the Suna Besha scheduled for Monday.