Thousands of devotees poured into Puri with religious fervour and enthusiasm to take part in the grand spectacle of the annual Rath Yatra keeping in with centuries old tradition of pulling majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother and sister. And across the country, Ahmedabad saw the 134th Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath at the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area.
People from across the country and abroad descended on pilgrim town Puri, and Ahmedabad, to have a glimpse of the presiding deities of the Sri Jagannath temple.
In Puri, since early morning, thousands of devotees kept pouring in to watch the ceremony and pull the three colourful chariots on the 'bada danda', the Grand Avenue, where security personnel were deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident.
As the presiding deities, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra - set out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for their annual nine-day sojourn to Gundicha temple, about 2km away, a number of special rituals like Mangla Arati and Mailam were performed.
Descending from the Ratna Sinhasana, the bejewelled throne, the three deities were taken out of the temple down the 22 steps known as "Baisi Pahacha" through the Lion's Gate in an elaborate royal ritual called "Pahandi" as devotees and sevayats jostled to have a glimpse and touch them.
In a rhythmic style, the deities were taken out to the accompaniment of beating of ghantas and kahalis and blowing of conch shells.
The proceedings were watched by millions, including governor MC Bhandare and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, while buildings on both sides of the Grand Avenue were occupied by thousands of people vying for a proper view.
As volunteers were seen spraying jets of cold water on the vast multitude to give them relief from heat, security cordons were put in place around each chariot and policemen had a trying time controlling the crowd before and during the pulling of chariots.
At first Sudarshana, the celestial wheel of Krishna-Vishnu, was taken out and placed in the chariot of Subhadra followed by Balabhadra, Subhadra and finally Jagannatha.
Ready to carry the deities to the Gundicha temple, the three majestic wooden chariots waited outside draped in yards of red, black, green and yellow cloth.
The 45-feet high "Nandighosh", the chariot of Lord Jagannath with 16 huge wooden wheels, the 44-feet high "Taladhwaja", the chariot of Balabhadra with 14 wheelsand Subhadra's 43-feet high "Darpadalan" chariot with 12 wheels stood for transporting the deities.
Meanwhile, in Ahmedabad, Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed the symbolic cleaning of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, after which the 'Rath Yatra' began. The chariot procession of Lord Jagannath passed through 110 places in Gujarat.
Thousands of devotees in front of chariots during the annual Puri Rath-yatra in Puri on Sunday
Chariots being pulled during the annual Rath-yatra festival in Puri on Sunday.
A woman prays during 134th Chariot Procession Rath yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Hindu devotees pulling the chariot of Lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival on Sunday
A priest places garlands offered by devotees at the idols inside Lord Jagannath temple on the eve of a chariot festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, July 2, 2011. The three idols, of Hindu God Jagannath, right, his brother Balabhadra, left, and sister Subhadra, center, will be taken out in a grand procession in specially made chariots called raths, which are pulled by thousands of devotees.
An artist paints the tail of an elephant at Lord Jagannath temple on the eve of a chariot festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, July 2, 2011. Millions of Hindu devotees participate in an annual religious procession of Jagannath, who is considered by Hindus to be the lord of the universe.
An artist paints an elephant at Lord Jagannath temple on the eve of a chariot festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, July 2, 2011.
People from across the country and abroad descended on pilgrim town Puri, and Ahmedabad, to have a glimpse of the presiding deities of the Sri Jagannath temple.
In Puri, since early morning, thousands of devotees kept pouring in to watch the ceremony and pull the three colourful chariots on the 'bada danda', the Grand Avenue, where security personnel were deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident.
As the presiding deities, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra - set out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for their annual nine-day sojourn to Gundicha temple, about 2km away, a number of special rituals like Mangla Arati and Mailam were performed.
Descending from the Ratna Sinhasana, the bejewelled throne, the three deities were taken out of the temple down the 22 steps known as "Baisi Pahacha" through the Lion's Gate in an elaborate royal ritual called "Pahandi" as devotees and sevayats jostled to have a glimpse and touch them.
In a rhythmic style, the deities were taken out to the accompaniment of beating of ghantas and kahalis and blowing of conch shells.
The proceedings were watched by millions, including governor MC Bhandare and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, while buildings on both sides of the Grand Avenue were occupied by thousands of people vying for a proper view.
As volunteers were seen spraying jets of cold water on the vast multitude to give them relief from heat, security cordons were put in place around each chariot and policemen had a trying time controlling the crowd before and during the pulling of chariots.
At first Sudarshana, the celestial wheel of Krishna-Vishnu, was taken out and placed in the chariot of Subhadra followed by Balabhadra, Subhadra and finally Jagannatha.
Ready to carry the deities to the Gundicha temple, the three majestic wooden chariots waited outside draped in yards of red, black, green and yellow cloth.
The 45-feet high "Nandighosh", the chariot of Lord Jagannath with 16 huge wooden wheels, the 44-feet high "Taladhwaja", the chariot of Balabhadra with 14 wheelsand Subhadra's 43-feet high "Darpadalan" chariot with 12 wheels stood for transporting the deities.
Meanwhile, in Ahmedabad, Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed the symbolic cleaning of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, after which the 'Rath Yatra' began. The chariot procession of Lord Jagannath passed through 110 places in Gujarat.
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