Puri: The annual sojourn of the three deities to the Gundicha Temple began in Puri on Tuesday with the pulling of Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra by the sevayats and the police.
The pulling of the chariot began at 12.05 pm after the sevayats opened the charamala (ladder) of the three chariots and fixed wooden horses and the horsemen to them.
This will be followed by the pulling of the Darpadalana chariot of Devi Subhadra and the Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath.
Only 500 people will pull each chariot in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive, which also barred any congregation of devotees in view of the COVID-19 pandemic this year.
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Only 10 servitors are allowed atop each chariot.
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The rituals for Rath Yatra began early in the morning with Mangala Aalati at around 3 am. It was followed by rituals like Mailama, Tadapa Lagi, Abakasha, Gopal Ballava, Sakala Dhoopa and Ratha Pratishta, which were completed by 7 am.
The Pahandi ritual began thereafter and the sibling deities were seated atop their respective chariots, Madan Mohan Bije, before 10 am. The Chita Lagi ritual was then conducted.
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The Chherapanhara, the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom, by Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb was held between 10.55 am to 11.45 am. Following which, the servitors began preparations for the pulling of the chariots.
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