Over 10 lakh devotees witnessed the Rath Yatra on Wednesday as the lord of the universe Jagannath along with His elder brother Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra began a nine-day sojourn on their chariots. On the way, they tasted typical Odia delicacy Podapitha at the Mausima temple.
Only the chariot of Shree Balabhadra could reach the destination, the Gundicha Temple by the scheduled time in the evening, while those of Shree Jagannath and Devi Subhadra were pulled up to the Mausima Temple and the Hospital Square, respectively. The two stranded Raths will be pulled on Thursday.
Pilgrims jostled to have a glimpse of the deities as they came out of the temple in Pahandi. Chanting of slokas and ululations rented the air as the lord of the universe came out swinging his giant tiara, a floral head gear in style. Swinging of floral tiaras with every step of the lord during the Pahandi was a treat to the devotees. The Odissi dancers dancing to the tunes of Ghantas, cymbals, drums, blowing of conches and trumpets presented a serene and celestial atmosphere.