Despite heavy rain, the Rath Yatra, which is being held here for more than 330 years, was observed peacefully on Saturday.
After completion of rituals like Mangala alati, Surya Puja, Snana Marjana and Ballava at the Siddha Balaram Temple, Dhenkanal king Kamakshya Prasad Singhdeo and his son Amarjyoti Singhdeo performed Pahandi Bije of lord Jagannath. Then they conducted Chhera Pahanra on the two chariots, one of lord Jagannath and another of Devi Subhadra, amid recital of Haribol and Hula Huli and blowing of conch, ghant and cymbals.
Dhenkanal history claims that the Rath Yatra in Dhenkanal was initiated by the erstwhile king much earlier of the endowment of Siddha Bbalaram Temple in1690. Idol of lord Jagannath was used to be brought from the Dadhi Baman Jew Mutt for Rath Yatra. But due to the difference between the king and Mahanta of the mutt, the former constructed a separate temple for lord Jagannath in Sidha Balaram temple premises.
As per practice, general people pulled the Jagannath Temple and women the Subhadra Rath.