In keeping with their tradition of pulling the chariots of the sibling deities a day after Rath Yatra, residents of Dharakote, Digapahandi, Surangi and Kullad, near Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district pulled the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on Monday.
Hundreds of devotees from nearby villages took part in pulling the chariots in Digapahandi, Dharakote and Kullad.
“Our festival is was almost similar to one in Puri, only the chariots are pulled a day after,” a local said.
Several people from the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh and tribals also thronged Surangi in Patrapur block for pulling the chariot amid tight security.
“Ever since the Jagannath temple was built in Surangi, which is located near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, by the then king of Surangi in 8th century, locals and the temple management have been pulling the chariots a day after Rath Yatra,” Anchal Pradhan, a resident of Surangi, said.
The exact reason for the one day delay in pulling the chariots in these places, however, was unknown to the scholars.