More than 10, 000 devotees from Kendrapada and adjoining districts flocked to witness the Rath Yatra of lord Baladevjew at Tulasi Kshetra of Kendrapara district on Wednesday.
The Pahandi Bije of the three deities began after 2pm. All the deities were landed in the 62-feet Brahma Taladhwaja chariot. After Chhera Pahnara by Raj Purohit, devotees pulled the Rath, which was stopped near the temple Endowment Office as per the rituals. The chariot will be pulled to the Mausi Maa temple on Thursday.
Tight security arrangements were made to ensure safety during the Rath Yatra. District Collector Debaraj Senapati and other senior officials monitored the situation. Adequate police forces were also deployed and temporary police outpost were set up at the Rath Danda to avoid any untoward incidents, said SP Nitinjeet Singh.
Devotees of Righagada celebrated the car festival at the Baladevjew Temple at Righagada as the temple authority has been organising the festival by painting three chariots with hues in front of the deities for over four decades.
The Ratha Yatra was also celebrated by both upper caste people and Dalits of Keredagada under Rajnagar. However, the district administration has also mobilized police in and around the temple to avert any untoward incidents, informed Rajnagar PS IIC Sitakantha Kanungo.
Besides, the car festival was held peacefully at Harihar Kshetra in Mahala, Banabiharijew temple at Pentha, Dadhibabanjew temple at Choudakulat, Jagannath temple at Amrutamanohi and Jagannathpur and other parts of the district.
Three persons sustained minor injuries in Garadpur as two wheels and an axel of the chariot got separated from one of the axels of the chariot. The chariot pulling was stopped midway.