PURI: Thousand of pilgrims thronged the Pilgrim City of Puri on Akshaya Tritiya on Saturday to witness the beginning of the 21-day water sports festival -Chandan Yatra - of lord Jagannath.
As per the rituals, the representative idol of lord Jagannath as well as five Shivalingas, known as Pancha Pandavas, are taken in a procession from the Singhadwara of the temple to Narendra Tirtha tank. After various rituals, the deities are placed on the richly decorated boats for a ride in the tank.
Accordingly, Madanmohan, the representative idol of lord Jagannath, his consort Laxmi and Pancha Pandavas began their journey from the temple in six palanquins along the Grand Road to Narendra tank.
The deities were ceremonially escorted by a set of temple servitors on decorated ‘Bimanas’, while the deity rode on a special one called ‘Manibimana’. Folk artistes performed to the beats of drums and cymbals along the 1.5 km-long road stretch.
The deities, on their arrival at Narendra tank, were given a sandalwood paste and aromatic water bath for cooling effect. Then they were taken in a procession to their respective giant swan-shaped boats.
The deities move about the tank enjoying the notes and dances of Odissi presented by dancers on the decks till late in the evening.
They return to the temple in the manner and style as they went out. The scene is repeated daily and on completion of 21 days, the concluding ceremony, known as ‘Bhaunri’, is observed with display of fireworks and music extravaganza.