Amid tight security, the 136th lord Jagannath rath yatra began in Ranchi this morning. After the recent serial blasts in Bodhgaya, the administration is more cautious for the safety of the devotees. To protect the devotees from any untoward incidents Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP), Ranchi district police, home guard and women police personnels were pressed into duty during the mela.
Police personnel were deployed in plain clothes to keep a watch on anti-social elements. CCTV cameras too were installed at strategic points on roads moving towards the temple and within the temple premises. A temporary police station was set up near the temple so that people can register complains. Bomb disposal and dog squad were also deployed in the mela.
“After witnessing the bombast our team is on high alert. We have left no loop holes in security arrangement. No devotee will face problem in seeking blessing from their Almighty. My team is fully prepared to manage the crowd and provide them security from any untoward incident,” said City SP C Manoj Ratan.
The annual Rath Yatra (chariot procession) of lord Jagannath, his brother Bhalabhadra and sister Subhadra began in Jagannathpur 12 km away from Ranchi city. The Rath was taken from Jagannath temple to Mausi Bari. The chariot on which the idols were taken to Mausi Bari was approximately 40 feet high and weighs more than 25 quintals.
The festival marks the annual journey of three deities from the 12th century Jagannath temple, in three splendid decorated wooden chariots pulled by devotees. More than 800,000 devotees from different part of the country attended this procession to get a glimpse of the deities which is considered auspicious. The chariots were pulled by around 45,000 devotees with ropes amid chanting hymns.
Head priest of the temple, Braj Bhushan Nath Mishra said, “lakh of people have come down to seek blessing from the lord. The chariot is ready for the procession. Around 500 people including city DSP PN Singh will travel along with lord Jagannath. Seema Gupta, a devotee said, “I along with my family have come from Burdawan (West Bengal) to take part in the procession and seek the blessing of Almighty. We will also pull the chariot to a certain distance”. The festival ends nine days later when the deities make their way back home to the Jagannath temple. The return journey known as Bahuda Jatra, will be held July 19.