Bhubaneswar: Rukuna Rath Yatra, the annual car festival of Lord Lingaraj, will commence on Rath Road in Ekamra Kshetra of Bhubaneswar at 3.30 pm on Saturday.
This Rath Yatra of 11th-century Shree Lingaraj Temple is considered by some scholars as older than Lord Jagannath’s in its present form.
While the morning rituals at the shrine began at 5 am, devotees were allowed darshan of the deities after Mangal Arati at 5.30 am. The rituals for the car festival will begin between 12 pm and 12.30 pm. The ‘Pahandi’ will be conducted from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm when chalanta pratima or utsav moortis of Chandrashekhar (Lord Shiva), Rukmini and Basudev (Lord Vishnu) are escorted ceremoniously out of the temple and into the Rath.
The chariot will be pulled at around 3.30 pm towards Rameshwar Temple after rituals atop the chariot.
After monitoring the preparations, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das informed that drinking water and water sprinkling arrangements have been made at several places in view of the hot weather conditions. “Health camps have also been set up. A special medical team on behalf of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will be at standby to attend to anyone who falls ill during the event. Mobile toilets are available for the crowd,” she added.
SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Sixteen platoons of police will be deployed for smooth conduct of the festival. Two DCPs, three Additional DCPs, five ACPs, along with twelve inspectors, 65 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors will be engaged.
“Two layers of security arrangements have been made around the Rath for crowd management. Around 200 to 300-metre area has been cleared to ensure smooth movement of the chariot of the Lord,” Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
The Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar has issued a traffic advisory for Rukuna Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraj, which be celebrated on April 5-6 with the return journey on April 9-10, to ensure better convenience and in the larger interest of public safety.
No vehicles will be allowed on Rath Road from Mausi Maa Chhak. Instead those will be diverted either towards Museum Chhak or towards Vivekananda Marg.
No vehicle will be allowed on Rath road from Barik Sahi lane, Maharana Sahi lane, Gosagareswar Chhak, Sital Sasthi lane, Tinimundia Chhak, Harchandi lane, Muna medical lane and Punama gate lane or any other lane/ by-lane emerging at Rath road.
No vehicles will be allowed on Rath road from Rath Khala, those vehicles will instead be diverted from Rath Khala towards Bata Mahadev Temple.
Therefore, Bhubaneswar denizens should plan their route accordingly on these days. Any violation of the order will attract a fine of Rs 500 and may extend up to Rs 1000. The restrictions, however, will not apply to emergency vehicles (police, fire and ambulance), the advisory added.
