World famous Rath Yatra held smoothly in holy city of Puri with tight security & Covid 19 protocols

Puri (Odisha), July 12

The world famous Rath Yatra popularly known as Shri Gundicha Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra  held in the holy city of Puri with tight security arrangements and Covid 19 protocols.

This is the second consecutive year that the car festival in Puri is being held without the general devotees due to the pandemic.

Servitors escorted the idols of the deities from ‘Ratna Simhasan’ to their chariots — Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosa — in a ceremonial procession- ‘Pahandi Bije’ ritual to their respective chariots.

Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha performed ‘Chhera pahara’, the ceremony in which he sweeps all chariots, one after another.

After the rituals on the Raths,  the pulling of the Grand Chariots on the Grand Road in Puri began- about three hours ahead of the schedule.

The pulling of chariots began with Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja.

Sevayats or the servitors pulled the  Taladhwja- the divine Rath of  Lord Shri Balabhadra followed by Darpadalana- the grand Rath of Devi Subhadra.

As per tradition,  Nandighosa- the majestic Rath of Lord Sri Jagannath is pulled at the last.

All the chariots reached the Shri Gundicha Mandir covering the three kilometre long Grand Road before the sunset.

The Raths started yatra towards Shri Gundicha Mandir where the deities will have their nine days’ sojourn before returning to Sri Mandir-their divine abode.

The deities will be  coming back to Sri Mandir on the holy occasion known as Bahuda Yatra or the return car festival. Devotees near and far witnessed the grand festival through a small screen to seek the lord’s blessings.

Many dignitaries including the President, Vice President, the Prime minister and the Chief Minister of Odisha have greeted the people on the occasion.
 
Greeting people on the occasion of the Rath Yatra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said – We bow to Lord Jagannath and pray that is blessings bring good health and prosperity in everyone’s lives.BM