Bhubaneswar: Braving intermittent rain, thousands of devotees gathered outside various temples in Bhubaneswar to participate in Sunday’s Rath Yatra, marked by immense religious fervour. Drenched but undeterred, devotees gathered in large numbers, demonstrating their unwavering devotion in pulling the chariots. Unlike Puri, where chariot pulling will continue till Monday, the pulling of chariots in all temples of Bhubaneswar concluded on Sunday itself.
“This year’s Rath Yatra is special as Netra Utsav, Nabajouban Darshan and chariot pulling were held on a single day. The deities come out for the grand festival, which soaks everyone in devotion,” said Santosh Kumar Satapathy, a priest at Shrivani Srikhetra.
The sight of the massive, ornately decorated chariots moving down the streets was awe-inspiring. The chariots, adorned with flowers, lights, and traditional motifs, were pulled by ropes, with devotees vying for the chance to participate in this sacred act. Rath Yatra has been organised in around 50 small and big temples across the city.
Each temple in the city had its own way of celebrating, but the spirit of devotion and community feeling remained the same. Colourful cultural processions with traditional and folk dances marked the celebrations.
“Rath Yatra symbolises the journey of life and the importance of devotion. The atmosphere was electric, and it felt like Lord Jagannath himself blessed us as we took part in this divine journey,” said Kamal Kumari Das, a 62-year-old devotee at Kolathia Jagannath Temple.
As priests performed the rituals, the air was filled with the sound of conch shells and the rhythmic beating of drums. The deities were brought out of the temple in a grand procession, amidst the chanting of hymns and slogans in praise of Lord Jagannath. Devotees danced and sang with joy, their faces reflecting a deep sense of spirituality and happiness.
Organisers had worked tirelessly to ensure smooth conduct of the festival. “Despite the rain, our volunteers have done a commendable job managing the crowd and ensuring smooth conduct of the event. The devotion of the people is what keeps us going,” said Radhakanta Das, spokesperson of Iskcon temple in the city.
Though Rath Yatra was affected due to severe waterlogging in front of the temple, prompt action by BMC officials to drain out the water helped in timely pulling of the chariots to Mausi Maa temple at Unit VIII.
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the organizers ensured that the event proceeded smoothly. Volunteers were stationed at various points to manage the crowd and provide assistance where needed.