The annual Rath Yatra festival was observed with much fanfare in several places of Jagatsinghpur district on Wednesday.
No untoward incident was reported during the festival in the district as administration and police had made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security of the devotees. Rains occurred in some parts affecting chariots pulling.
The Rath Yatra is popular in six major places in different blocks of the district such as Sidhal, Dhyana Kuda, Garei, Sarabanta, Gadakujanga and the port town of Paradip.
The festival is also observed in almost all the villages of the district.
District Public Relations officer Pitambar Swain attended the Siddhal Rath Yatra, six km from Jagatsinghpur town and performed the sweeping ritual. Nearly, 10,000 devotees from surrounding villages had congregated at the place.
At Dhyanakuda Jagannath Temple in Biridi block, chariot pulling started after 4 pm. Pramoda Nandi, the local designated king, performed the sweeping ceremony and Baba Arakhita Das coordinated the celebration.
The Jagannath temple at Garei in Naugaon block also witnessed turnout of about 50,000 devotees in coastal Erasama block. At Sarabanta Jagannath Temple in Gadaharishpur gram panchayat (GP), a huge crowd turned out on the auspicious occasion.
In Paradip port town, the combined strength of Muslims, Christians and Hindus had put up the best show. PPT chairman Rinkesh Ray performed the sweeping rituals.
The most glittering Rath Yatra was observed at Kunjabihari Temple in Gadakujanga where the chariot is pulled after a day. On the day of the Rath Yatra, all rituals are performed but the deities take rest in the chariot till the next day. As per the tradition, the sweeping act was performed by Excise Minister and local MlA Damodar Rout.