Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today) July 6: As Odisha’s Puri prepares for the renowned Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on Sunday, the seaside pilgrim town has intensified its efforts to ensure a seamless celebration of the grand festival.
Ahead of the main event, the temple’s servitors performed the ‘Agyan Mala Bije’ ritual for the three colossal chariots on Saturday, following the conclusion of the ‘Sakala Dhupa’ at the temple.
In a ceremonial procession, the servitors received the ‘Agyan Mala’ from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum and proceeded to the chariots—Nandighosa for Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra, and Darpadalana for Devi Subhadra. Devotees and police personnel then assisted in pulling the chariots from Rath Khala to Singhadwar of the temple, positioning them northward towards the Gundicha Temple for the Lords’ annual journey during Rath Yatra.
Authorities have meticulously arranged for the festival’s smooth execution, ensuring the chariots are fully prepared. Given the expected large turnout of devotees, comprehensive security measures have been put in place by the police.
This year presents a unique challenge as the traditional ‘Nabajouban Darshan’, Netra Utsav, and Rath Yatra coincide on the same day after a 53-year gap. This convergence poses significant logistical challenges for priests and administrators to complete all rituals in time for the scheduled start of chariot pulling at 5 pm on Sunday.
Puri prepares for Rath Yatra with rituals and chariot readiness
