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New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Rath Yatra celebrated with fervour in Cuttack
CUTTACK: Cuttack soaked in festive fervour as devotees thronged Jagannath temples across the city to take part in Rath Yatra celebrations. As usual, the Jagannath temples at Chandni Chowk and Dolamundai were the major attractions and witnessed a massive turnout. At Chandni Chowk, the Rath Yatra, first celebrated in 1996 and held in a grander fashion since the temple's permanent structure was completed in 2001, began early in the morning. The temple opened its doors at 5 am, followed by rituals including Mangal Alati, Mailam Lagi, and Surya Puja. The Pahandi Bije procession commenced around 9:30 am, and the ceremonial Chhera Pahanra was performed at noon. By 2 pm, the chariots had begun their journey to the temporary Gundicha temple near Bellevue Square. Similarly, at Dolamundai, the Patitapaban temple opened at 4 am. Following the morning rituals, the Pahandi Bije was completed by 3 pm. The pulling of the chariots started at 4 pm with hundreds of devotees lined up for the divine procession. According to tradition, the chariots made a stop at Seminary Chhak, where members of the Muslim community from the Mahala Committee and Chand Club offered bhoga to the deities. The chariots were then pulled back to Chandan Padia near Dolamundai, where the Gundicha temple is located. The chariots of Devi Subhadra were exclusively pulled by women at both Chandni Chowk and Dolamundai. Another major crowd-puller was the Rath Yatra of the Baladevjew temple at Ranihat, celebrated for the ninth time since its inception in 2015. Here, the three deities were placed on a single chariot. The Chhera Pahanra ritual was performed by collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde at around 5 pm, after which the chariot made its way through Ranihat and College Square before returning to the Gundicha temple at Ranihat Durga Mandap. The Commissionerate Police made elaborate security arrangements and traffic regulations to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the festival across the city.
Hans India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Thousands of people pulled chariots: Amid chants of ‘Jai Jagannath', Rath Yatra begins in Puri
Puri: Thousands of people pulled the ropes attached with chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on a road from near the 12th-century shrine here towards Shree Gundicha temple, around 2.6 km away, as the main part of Rath Yatra festival began on Friday. Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and many other dignitaries were among those who pulled the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. Amid chanting of 'Jai Jagannath' and 'Hari Bol', beating of cymbals and blowing of trumpets and conch shells, the 'Taladwaja' chariot of Lord Balabhadra first started rolling at 4.08 pm. It was followed by Devi Subhadra's 'Darpadalan' chariot and finally Lord Jagannath's 'Nandighosh'. While the devotees were pulling the chariots, the priests surrounded the deities on the chariots as the procession made its way through the Grand Road of this temple town. While thousands of people pulled chariots, lakhs of others also reached the seaside temple town to participate in the festival. Around one million devotees are estimated to have converged on this town for the annual car festival, officials said. The chariot pulling started after Puri's titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb, performed 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping of chariots) on all three chariots. Wooden horses of different colours were fitted on three chariots before they were pulled by the devotees. Earlier, the trinity- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath had ascended their respective chariots after over two-hour long ceremonial 'Pahandi' ritual here on Friday. During 'Pahandi', the three wooden idols were carried to the chariots from the 12th-century Jagannath temple. Odissi dancers, folk artists, music players and many other groups drawn from different parts of the state performed before the idols. The Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, along with selected disciples, visited three chariots after the deities were placed on them. The 81-year-old seer came near the chariots in a wheelchair. The Shankaracharya's visit is also part of the Rath Yatra rituals. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Odisha ministers and many others witnessed the ceremonial Pahandi, one of the major attractions of Rath Yatra here in Puri. The festival is being held amid unprecedented security arrangements with deployment of around 10,000 personnel of Odisha police, central armed police force, NSG and others. "We have made all possible arrangements for smooth conduct of Rath Yatra," DGP Y B Khurania told reporters, adding that over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras were installed to keep a watch on the crowd. ADGP (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar said that the arrangements are made in view of some information following the Pahalgam terror attack. "Several central government agencies are collaborating with Odisha Police, including NSG snipers, Coast Guard drones, and anti-drone systems. Canine teams and Odisha's anti-sabotage units are also engaged in duty here," he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Capital city soaks in community spirit
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar: The capital city turned into a canvas of colour and devotion on Friday as thousands of devotees thronged the streets to witness Rath Yatra celebrations. Over 50 large and small chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were pulled through different parts of the city, accompanied by chants of 'Jai Jagannath'. The air reverberated with sounds of devotional music as people from all walks of life joined hands to pull the intricately decorated wooden chariots. Dressed in traditional attire, devotees danced to the rhythms of Odisha's folk instruments, while cultural troupes performed 'gotipua', 'ghoda nacha' and tribal dances along the city roads. "Rath Yatra is an expression of Odisha's religious belief and heritage. Everyone soaks in the love for the deities. Seeing the gods coming out of the temple and journeying among the people is an emotional moment for all of us," said Raghunath Nanda, secretary of Baramunda temple managing committee. With weather staying pleasant despite an overcast sky, hundreds of devotees took part in the festival. In localities like Nayapalli, Sailashree Vihar, Patia, VSS Nagar, Rental Colony, Jagamara, Kolathia, Delta Square, Old Town, Rasulgarh, and GGP Colony, community-led Rath Yatras showcased the rich cultural tapestry of Odisha, each adding its unique flavour to the celebrations. Saraswati Pradhan, a schoolteacher from Pathargadia, brought her two children along to witness the yatra at the Jagannath Temple in KISS campus. "This is the best way to ensure the younger generation connects with our traditions. Children are very excited to be a part of the divine moment and feel its pulse. Women pulled the chariot of Devi Subhadra here, and we feel so blessed," Pradhan said. Children at Bada Danda Sahi in Badhei Banka pulled the tiny idols on their beautifully decorated chariot following the rituals of Jagannath Temple in Puri. Security was tight across the city, with traffic diversions in place and emergency services deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of Rath Yatra. "We made elaborate arrangements in coordination with local organisers to ensure devotees could participate safely. Traffic movement was arranged accordingly for the smooth passage of chariots and vehicles in various localities," said a senior police officer. BMC made elaborate arrangements for cleanliness and sanitation and also conducted raids at food stalls to ensure adulterated food is not being sold.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Women pull Devi Subhadra's chariot in Berhampur
Berhampur: Women took centre stage at the Rath Yatra in Gosaninuagaon here as they exclusively pulled the chariot of Devi Subhadra. The unique practice, which mirrors a similar tradition in Mayurbhanj district's Baripada, has been a part of Berhampur's Rath Yatra celebrations since 2000. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The tradition of women pulling Subhadra's chariot began in Baripada in 1975. The silk city followed suit, offering women the opportunity to actively participate in the festival. Organisers said the number of women participating has grown each year, reflecting their enthusiasm and commitment. Panchanan Choudhury, manager of the Jagannath Temple Development Committee in Gosaninuagaon, highlighted the significance of the practice. "The temple committee has reserved Devi Subhadra's chariot for women to ensure they have a chance to participate in Rath Yatra," he said. The event was inaugurated by Sanghamitra Dalei, mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation, and K Rama Devi, wife of Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar, who led the procession by pulling Devi Subhadra's chariot. The MLA commenced the pulling of Lord Jagannath's chariot. The procession, which covered a distance of around 1.5km from the temple to the Gundicha Temple, was conducted under tight security. SP (Berhampur), Saravana Vivek M, said adequate women police officers were deployed to ensure safety and manage the crowds. Dalei said, "Women do not have to jostle with their male counterparts to get closer to the chariot. The arrangement also protects them from potential harassment."
United News of India
a day ago
- General
- United News of India
Amid relentless downpour, over a million devotees throng Puri for grand Rath Yatra
Puri, June 27 (UNI) In an awe-inspiring convergence of devotion and divine grace, over a million pilgrims gathered in Puri today to witness the grand Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—eternal symbols of the divine journey and cosmic rhythm. Braving relentless monsoon showers and oppressive humidity, the faithful remained undeterred. Their hearts uplifted, they came to catch a glimpse of Mahaprabhu as he emerged from the sanctum and ascended his chariot for the revered nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha temple, accompanied by his divine siblings. According to the temple Panjika, a rare planetary alignment this year resulted in the compression of two significant rituals—Netra Utsav and Nabajouban Vesha—into a single, auspicious Thursday, intensifying the spiritual fervour preceding the Yatra. As the gates of Simhadwar opened and Lord Jagannath emerged, adorned with floral headgear and divine grace, the Badadanda (Grand Avenue) resonated with chants of 'Jai Jagannath,' 'Haribol,' and the rhythmic huluhuli (ululation) of women, enveloping the atmosphere in a trance-like devotion. Devotees, soaked in both rain and spiritual ecstasy, strained to glimpse their beloved Lord as He descended the temple steps in the traditional Pahandi procession, flanked by Daita servitors. While cool water from sprinklers eased the physical discomfort, it was unwavering faith that truly sustained the massive gathering. Beginning at Brahma Muhurta, priests performed the morning rituals, including Mangal Arati, Mailam, Tadapa Lagi, Abakasha, Surya Puja, and Rosa Homa. The deities were then dressed in fresh adornments and offered Khichdi Bhog—a simple yet sacred meal. At precisely 10:20 a.m., the ceremonial Dhadi Pahandi (processional entry in sequence) began. Lord Balabhadra was carried to the Taladhwaja, Devi Subhadra to the Darpadalan, and Lord Jagannath to the Nandighosh chariot. Their regal journey was accompanied by the rhythmic beats of ghantas, mridangas, conch shells, and classical Odissi dance performances that elevated the collective spirit. By 12:30 p.m., the Lord of the Universe had ascended His chariot. In keeping with ancient tradition, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Neeschalananda Saraswati of Govardhan Peeth offered prayers atop the sacred chariots, accompanied by his disciples. Soon after, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb arrived in a splendidly adorned palanquin to perform the Chhera Pahanra—a ceremonial sweeping of the chariot platforms with a golden broom—symbolizing humility in kingship and divine servitude. At 4:00 p.m., devotees were blessed with the opportunity to pull Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja. This was followed by Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan and then Lord Jagannath's majestic Nandighosh chariot. More than just a religious festival, the Rath Yatra is a cosmic choreography—an age-old divine drama reaffirming that the Lord descends to walk among His devotees. Prominent leaders including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers Pravati Parida and K.V. Singhdeo, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were present to witness the celestial procession. Amid heightened security concerns following the recent Pahalgam incident, the holy city was transformed into a fortress of vigilance. Over 10,000 personnel—including RAF, NDRF, NSG, anti-drone units, and AI-monitored surveillance teams—ensured seamless security. The Navy, Coast Guard, and Odisha Marine Police scanned the coastline, while lifeguards were deployed along the seashore to prevent drowning incidents. Despite adverse weather, fire service personnel and NGO volunteers worked tirelessly—sprinkling water to cool the crowds, assisting fainting devotees, and attending to injuries on the beach. Nearly a thousand devotees were treated and later discharged, their devotion unshaken. District Magistrate Sidharth Sankar Swain, SP Vinit Agarwal, SJTA Chief Administrator Aravind Padhee, DGP Y.B. Khurania, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and other top officials coordinated efforts with unwavering commitment to ensure a flawless event. As the chariots prepare to roll forward and lakhs chant, "Jagannath Swami Nayana Patha Gami Bhavatu Me", the divine message is clear—Lord Jagannath comes forth, not only to bless the world but to become a part of it. UNI XC DP BM
