Religious fervour marked the beginning of annual rath yatra with large number of devotees pulling the colourfully decorated chariots at various places on Sunday.
As the day fell on weekend, huge crowds participated in pulling the chariot carrying deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Every year as part of tradition the deities are taken to their aunt’s place known as Gundicha Ghar for their annual sojourn.
Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj (USS), Utkalika Cultural Association (UCA) of VSP, Sri Jagannadhaswamy Temple of One Town area and ISKCON organised the yatra at different places in the city.
Deities were taken to the rathams amid Vedic hymns and chanting of Hari Bol from the temples at Daspalla Hills and Section-9 of VSP Township Ukkunagaram respectively and later they were pulled by the enthusiastic crowds for the divine sojourn.
After Pahandi Bije and Chhera Pahanara (the customary cleaning with a golden or silver broom) was done by Lal Saheb Pramod Chandra Deo Bhanj belonging to the erstwhile Daspalla royal family, the chariot started moving.
The deities will be kept at the Gundicha Ghar at Lawsons Bay Colony near Shanti Ashram.
The Endowments Department took out the chariot from Town Kotha Road to the Turner’s Choultry after Visakha South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar swept the floor. Visakha North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju and CMR Group Chairman M.V. Ramana were present along with Endowment Officer A. Jagannadham.
RINL CMD P. Madhusudan performed the Chhera Panhara at the rath yatra conducted at Ukkunagaram.
The chariot was pulled to the accompaniment of the music from mridang, cymbals and conches.
A handicraft and handloom exhibition was inaugurated on the occasion by Gowri Annapurna, honorary president, Visteel Mahila Samithi (VMS).
ISKCON took out the yatra for sixth time in the city a 35-ft collapsible canopy from VUDA Park to Gurajada Kalakshetram.
