Bhubaneswar: Rukuna Rath Yatra, the annual car festival of Lord Lingaraj, in Bhubaneswar will commence at 3.30 pm on Tuesday.
As per the schedule, ‘Mangala Alati’ was performed at 5 am at the 11th-century Lingaraj temple, followed by ‘Abakasha’ and ‘Sahanamela’ rituals. The bronze idols of ‘Chandrasekhar’ (representative idol of Lord Lingaraj), Devi Rukuna and Ananta Basudev will be taken to the chariot in the ceremonial Pahandi (procession ritual of the deities from the temple to chariot) at 12.30 pm amid chanting of hymns, beating of drums and gongs and blowing of the conch.
The chariot pulling along the 2km-long Ratha Danda in the Old Town in Bhubaneswar, marking the annual sojourn of the Lord to Mausi Maa temple (Rameswar temple), will commence at 3.30 pm, according to the trust board of Lord Lingaraj.
The five-day festival is celebrated on the occasion of Ashokastami. It is also called ‘Papa Binashakari Yatra’ which means destruction of all evils and sins.
Twelve platoons of police force, two Additional DCPs, six ACPs, 15 inspectors, more than 50 sub-inspectors and ASIs besides over 100 constables and home guards will be deployed to maintain law and order during the car festival. Traffic regulation, vehicle parking and management of the prevailing heatwave were also discussed at the meeting of Commissionerate Police on Monday.
Traffic diversions for smooth conduct of the festival were announced earlier.
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