Bhubaneswar, July 16 (IANS) Torrential rain failed to dampen the spirit of lakhs of devotees who remained immersed in devotion during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Odisha’s holy town of Puri on Thursday.

Devotees gathered along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) were seen holding a sea of umbrellas while chanting ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Hari Bol’ and dancing in ecstasy despite the incessant downpour.

On Thursday, the world-famous annual Rath Yatra festival began with the commencement of the Pahandi Bije ritual of the divine siblings and other deities, ahead of the scheduled time.

The holy siblings, along with other deities during the Pahandi Bije ritual, were escorted out from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to their respective decorated chariots in a grand ceremonial procession with the enthralling and divine sound of traditional musical instruments, like ghanta (gong), kahali (trumpet), and telingi baja, etc.

The priests, chanting sacred Vedic hymns, and traditional Odissi artists with their enthralling dance performances welcomed the deities on their nine-day sojourn for the Gundicha Temple, believed to be their birthplace.

Although the Pahandi Bije rituals began ahead of schedule, their completion was delayed by more than two hours on Thursday.

Following the completion of the Pahandi ritual, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, along with his disciples, offered puja to the holy siblings on the chariots. Later, Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb, the first servitor of the Lord Jagannath, offered prayers to the deities and conducted the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom.

It is worth noting that the district administration and the state housing and urban development department have made elaborate arrangements for prompt discharge of stormwater in waterlogging-prone areas across Puri town. Besides, the district administration, police and other departments have also made elaborate arrangements in the city to ensure a smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra this year.

More than 13,000 police personnel, along with an adequate number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed for security arrangements during the festival. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy will also remain on alert to check any illegal activities through the coastal route.

On the other hand, as many as 19 senior IPS officers have been assigned the duty to supervise the overall security arrangements.

–IANS

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