Over 12 lakh devotees from all corners of the country and even abroad on Sunday poured in here and took part in the grand spectacle of the annual car festival (rath yatra) of Lord Jagannath.
The two-km Badadanda (Grand Road) between Sri Mandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra and Sri Gundicha temple, turned into a sea of humanity as an overcast sky provided perfect weather for a grand gathering.
The devotees were seen jostling against each other to have a glimpse of the deities as it is believed that a darshan of gods on the chariots helps to get rid of sins and earns a place in heaven after death.
However, one devotee — Sudharkar Swain of Puruna Basantapur in Jagatsinghpur district — died during a stampede in the morning. Nearly 50 people were injured in the mishap.
After all the rituals, including Chhera Pahanra (sweeping of chariots by golden broom) ceremony performed by the Gajapati King Divyasingha Dev, were over — the devotees pulled the chariots from Sri Mandir to Sri Gundicha temple.
Sri Gundicha temple is the aunt’s place the deities where they stay for nine days.
In the morning, the deities were brought in a colourful procession from the temple and installed on the chariots amidst playing of drums, trumpets, mridangams and conchs.
Tight security arrangements were made to ensure smooth conduct of the festival. Around 80 platoons of state armed police forces and five platoons of rapid action force were deployed in the city for smooth conduct of the festival. Besides, close-circuit television cameras, sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads were also deployed at crucial points.
Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, chief minister Naveen Patnaik and a dozen of ministers and many eminent dignitaries were seen pulling the chariots.
During Rath Yatra, people irrespective or their caste, colour and religion are allowed to see and touch Lord Jagannath on the chariot.
The East Coast Railways (ECR) ran at least 95 special trains from different parts of the country to enable devotees to reach Puri.
Rath yatra or chariot festival is celebrated by Hindus on the second day of Sukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Ashadh.