The Car festival of lord Prasannamani Purusottam Dev (Jagannath) of erstwhile Tigiria estate under Athagarh subdivision will be celebrated on Sunday as per its long tradition.
During the royal time, the unique festival was started by King Shankarsan Mandhata in the year 1682 AD. Every year, the kings of Tigiria used to go to Puri to take part in the Rath Yatra of the Trinity and after returning back to their own palace, they start the festival the next day.
On the day of Rath Yatra, the deities here climb the chariot with usual Pahandi niti and give darshan to the devotees at Rathagada. But the pulling of the chariots is scheduled for the next day.
After the Chherapahanra and other nitis done by the local kings, the chariots are pulled. The unique traditional Rath Yatra is still followed here.
After merger of the princely State with the sovereign India in the year 1950, Bada Pandas (priests) of the deities have been performin the Chherapahanra and other nitis replacing the kings. Thousands of devotees congregate at the place to seek the blessing of the lords.
This year also, the local administration has prepared to make the ritual a great success.