The famous Gangadevi Yatra of Ganjam has started on Wednesday from Purunabandha village under Pallibandha panchayat, near the Rushikulya river mouth. On this occasion, two teams of Ramayan and Ram Lila are performing cultural programmes in front of the temple. A huge crowd gathered to have darshan of the presiding deity "Maa Gangadevi ''.
Earlier, a procession reached the historical Potagada Fort through Palibandha village in which a decorated 'Vimana' was carried out taking the deities. Thousands of devotees marched from the Potagada Fort through other places of Ganjam like Triveni Matha, Khandeswar Mahadev, Pudugeswar Mahadev of Barapali village and finally three deities reached the Rushikulya river beach at Damodarpur village.
Later, the procession reached Purunabandha Gangadevi temple and the deities proceeded to the temple in a boat ride in the water of Saheb Canal. The deities have been welcomed with traditional rituals and the yatra has formally started.