Puri: Performers, devotees, and the people of Puri in Odisha gathered at Gundicha temple Monday for the return of the Rath Yatra of Lords Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra to Jagannath Temple. After being kept at Gundicha Temple for eight days, the deities have now embarked on their two-day journey back to Jagannath Temple.
For this yatra, which inspired the word ‘juggernaut’, devotees will pull the green, red and yellow chariots, decorated with wooden horses, with ropes through the temple town of Puri.
Odissi, Kuchipudi, and Kathak dancers — ranging from 5-year-olds to 60-year-olds — gathered near the temple to celebrate this return journey. Dressed as Shiva, Durga, Kali, and Hanuman, these artists were seen performing dances for the waiting public.
“It is an honour and a privilege to perform here. We come every year,” said Sahil, an Odissi dancer who had come with his troupe to perform at the temple.
Divya Singha Deb, the Maharaja of Puri, dressed in a black anarkali, also reached the chariots to the sounds of bugles and swept the floor with a broom made of silver and gold to kickstart the tradition.
Over 10,000 personnel from the district administration, fire services, India Reserve Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Rapid Action Force have all been deployed throughout Puri to manage the movement of lakhs of devotees who have travelled from all over Odisha, the neighbouring West Bengal as well as other parts of the country, say police officials.
Addressing media persons while standing near the chariots earlier in the day, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that work on the Ratna Bhandar, the inner treasury of the Shri Jagannath Temple, which was opened on 14 July, will resume after the chariot procession concludes on 19 July.
Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and state minister Nityananda Gond were also present at the celebrations.
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