THOUSANDS of people pulled forward giant chariots from the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri towards Gundicha temple, around 2.5 km away, on Sunday afternoon. The chariot pulling started around 5.20 pm after Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanada Saraswati visited the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with his disciples and the Puri’s titular king completed the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ (chariot sweeping) ritual. The wooden horses were fitted to the chariots and the servitor pilots guided the devotees to pull the chariots in the right direction. President Droupadi Murmu performed a ‘parikrama’ of the three chariots and bowed down before the deities. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday took part in the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, one of the significant and eagerly awaited festivals in India. Extending wishes to fellow Indians, President Droupadi Murmu, in a post on X said, “On the occasion of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all the countrymen.

 

Today, countless Jagannath-lovers from all over the country and the world are eagerly waiting to see the three forms of Bhagavat seated on the chariot. On the occasion of this great festival, I pray to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for everyone’s happiness, peace and prosperity”. “On the occasion of the holy Rath Yatra, I extend heartfelt greetings and best wishes to everyone. May the boundless compassion of Lord Jagannath bring prosperity to every region of our State, fostering a new and enriched Odisha. This is my prayer,” Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi wrote in a post on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended wishes to the people on the commencement of the sacred Rath Yatra in Odisha and prayed that the blessings of Lord Jagannath continue to be bestowed upon them. “Greetings on the start of the sacred Rath Yatra. Webow to Mahaprabhu Jagannath and pray that his blessings constantly remain upon us,” posted PM Modi on X, on Sunday. The President, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and UnionMinisterDharmendra Pradhan symbolically startedthemammothexerciseby pullingtheropesconnecting theprincipalJagannathchariot. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also had a ‘darshan’ of the sibling deities. Thousands of people pulled nearly 45-feet tall wooden chariot of Lord Balabhadra. It will be followed by pulling of chariots of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.

 

Rhythmically beating brass cymbals and hand drums, priests surrounded the Gods on the canopied chariots as the procession made its slow way through the main street of the temple town. The air rented with ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Haribol’ as frenzieddevoteestriedtoget a glimpse of the holy occasion. Different artiste groups performed‘kirtans’(religious songs) and Odissi dance in front of the chariots before the procession started. Arounda milliondevotees are estimated to have converged on this town for the annual car festival. While most of the devotees were from Odisha and the neighbouring states, many from abroadalsojoinedinwhatis consideredoneofthelargest religious processions globally. Meanwhile,ChiefMinister MohanMajhireachedinPuri and met Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati. Majhi said he got the opportunitytomeetthe Puri seer,whoadvisedhimtoprovide service and justice to the poor and destitute ofthe State. The Shankaracharya has also advised the CM to take steps forthe renovation of the Srikhetra Puri and Govardhan peeth. Earlier in the day, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra ascended their respective chariots after the completion of the three-hour-long ‘Pahandi’ ritual at 2.15 pm.