The Car festival passed off peacefully in Dhenkanal headquarters town here. All the chariots reached their destination before dusk.
Following the rituals prepared by the royal priest, the Jayamangal Arati to the deities was performed at 5.15 am early in the morning on the Sidha Balaram Temple premises here. After completion of Surya Puja, Snana Marjana, Ballav and a series of other rituals, the Pahandi Bije was started at about 11 am. Dhenkanal king Kamakhya Prasad Singhdeo performed the Pahandi of lord Jagannath. The deities were offered Adhara Pana at Dhadhi Baman Jew temple on their way from Balaram temple to Rathagada, where their chariots were waiting to carry them to the Mausima Mandir.
The pulling of the chariots was performed at 1.00 pm. Several cultural troupes were seen at their best. lakhs of devotees congregated at the district headquarters town from several parts of the district and outside. They took part in the pulling of the chariots. Scout, guide and NCC cadets, besides adequate police forces were deployed for maintenance of law and order and tackling the traffic problem.
The liquor venders and butchers were directed to keep their shutters down on the auspicious occasion. Earlier, the civic body authorities had cleared the main road of stray cows and bulls, as the animals used to create traffic rush during the pulling of chariots by the devotees. The chariots reached Gundicha Mandir before 6 pm.