Over two lakh devotees witness nabajouban vesha

24 June, Puri

Over two lakh devotees braving the heavy monsoon down pour witnessed Nabajouban vesha of Lord Jagannath, His brother Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra here Saturday

The devotees were allowed darshan of the deities after the Servitors performed several nitees and rituals and Dutta mahapatra performed Banaklaagi (facial) of the deities. Later after offering of Gopal bhog the deities were dressed in coloured clothes and then devotees were allowed darshan of the deities.

The deities were in the Anasarghar (sick room) for the last eight days after they were bathed with 108 pots of water and appeared for darshan after they were given medicine and cured. The performance of the rituals and nitees by the servitors was delayed by three hours.

Darshan of the deities would continue till late in the night. There after the Daita servitors would fashion the deities with body armour (chhenapatta laagi) and prepare the deities to bear the stress of the Pahandi procession to the chariots.

On the other side the three chariots were pulled from the rath khalla (construction yard) to the festival site Simhadwar for the nine day car festival beginning tomorrow.

One hour heavy rains have thrown the city out of gear and huge rain and drain water had inundated the city main road making the commuters to negotiate the road.