Puri: As the stage is set for the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings in Odisha’s Puri on Sunday, the seaside pilgrim town geared up to ensure smooth conduct of the mega festival.
Ahead of the grand event, servitors of the 12th century shrine performed the ‘Agyan Mala Bije’ ritual for the three giant chariots on Saturday. The important ritual was performed after the completion of ‘Sakala Dhupa’ at the temple. The servitors proceeded to the chariots in a grand procession after getting the ‘Agyan Mala’ from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Thereafter, the three giant chariots, Nandighosa, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana meant for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra respectively, were pulled from Rath Khala towards Singhadwar of the temple by devotees and police personnel.
The three majestic chariots were kept north-faced towards the Gundicha temple to carry the Lords on Rath Yatra on Sunday for their annual sojourn. All arrangements have been made by the administration for smooth conduct of the festival. The chariots have been kept fully ready. As a large number of devotees are expected to witness Rath Yatra this year, elaborate security arrangements have been made by the police for the smooth conduct of the mega event.
As per tradition, the deities after recovering from sickness give darshan to the devotees during ‘’Nabajouban Darshan’, which is generally observed a day before Rath Yatra. However, this year the ‘Nabajouban Darshan’, Netra Utsav and Rath Yatra are being held on the same day after a gap of 53 years, presenting a major challenge for the priests and the administration to complete all rituals by the scheduled start of the chariot pulling at 5 pm on Sunday.
Rath Yatra, observed on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha month of the Hindu calendar, is the most important festival of the Jagannath Temple. During this time, the holy triad embarks on an annual nine-day sojourn to their birthplace, Gundicha Temple, located about three kilometres from the Jagannath Temple. Devotees from all sects and creeds throng the pilgrim town to have a glimpse of the divine siblings during the Rath Yatra.
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