Elaborate arrangements are in place for commencement of nine-day annual rath yatra also known as car festival of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra by various organisations in the city on Sunday.
Over 150-year old tradition of pulling the chariot by Sri Jagannadhaswamy Temple Committee of Old Town on the Main Road will be the main attraction. This is the oldest temple of Lord Jagannath in the city.
The colourfully decorated chariot will be pulled by the devotees from the main temple to the Turner’s Choultry, His aunt’s place for annual sojourn.
“This is an opportunity for devotees where the Lord will come out of the temple to enable people to have darshan on the streets. Lord Jagannath will also be worshipped at the aunt’s place called Gundicha Ghar,” Utkal Sankrutika Samaj president and Orissa Stevedores Ltd General Manager J.K. Nayak told The Hindu .
Lord Jagannath will don various avatars during the nine-day festival. The deities will be served various traditional dishes. The prasad will be distributed to the devotees in the evening.
Tulsi vesam was performed by decorating the deities with tulsi leaves a day before the divine yatra. Various cultural programmes are planned daily on the occasion. Utkal Sankrutika Samaj chariot will be pulled from the temple located on Daspalla Hills to Gundicha Ghar near Shantiashram.
‘Chera pahara’ is a traditional ceremony where before pulling the chariot VVIPs will sweep the floor to convey the message that there is no difference between the poor and the rich before the Almighty.
Utkalika Cultural Association of Ukkunagaram will celebrate the festival from June 25 to July 5 at the temple complex in Sector-9 of VSP Township. RINL Chairman-cum-Managing Director P. Madhusudan and other directors along with their families will participate on the day-one of the festival.
‘Navayuvana’ darshan was performed on Saturday. A grand handloom and handicraft expo along with daily cultural programmes will mark the festival at Ukkunagaram.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness will take in procession a 37-foot collapsible canopy to the Viswapriya Function Hall via Beach Road, Kali Mata temple and Coastal Battery.
