Puri: As Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri immersed in devotion during the world famous Rath Yatra on Tuesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik mingled with the masses to touch the chariot of Lord Jagannath before it was pulled by devotees.
The Chief Minister, who witnessed the different ritual associated with the annual festival from the VVIP enclosure, stepped out and walked into the crowd towards Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, to offer his obeisance.
As a sea of devotees descended on ‘Bada Danda’ to witness the grand event, the Grand Road, Naveen walked through the crowd to have darshan of the Lord and touch the chariot and its rope. He was accompanied by 5T secretary V K Pandian and security personnel.
The Chief Minister had darshan in front of Nandighosha, besides touching the chariot and the rope before it rolled on. No special passage was made for his movement in the crowd.
The sibling deities of Jagannath Temple embarked on their nine-day annual sojourn as the three majestic chariots rolled on the Grand Road in the seaside pilgrim town.
Lord Balabhadra led the chariot procession, followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana, and finally Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha moved towards the Gundicha Temple, around 3 km from the 12th century shrine.
The Chief Minister has wishing the people on this holy day. “With the blessings of the Lord and your cooperation, let us pave the way for the development of New Odisha,” he said in a message.
