The annual Rath Yatra festival kicked off in Puri, Odisha, with the Pahandi Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. The deities were escorted from the Shree Jagannath Temple to their chariots amidst a grand procession with traditional musical instruments like gong and trumpet.
Priests recited Vedic hymns while Odissi artists performed dance rituals to welcome the deities for their nine-day journey to the Gundicha Temple. Following tradition, the celestial weapon of Lord Krishna, Chakraraj Sudarshan, was placed on Goddess Subhadra’s chariot first, followed by the other deities.
Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb offered prayers and conducted rituals before devotees pulled the chariots to the Gundicha temple. Thousands of devotees gathered to witness the chariot procession, chanting sacred names and expressing pure devotion.
The Rath Yatra is observed on the second day of the bright fortnight of the Ashadha month, considered spiritually significant. Elaborate security arrangements, including thousands of police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces, have been made to ensure a smooth conduct of the festival. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are also on alert to prevent any illegal activities.
