IN PICS | Rath Yatra 2023: Devotees throng Puri to witness the festival of chariots
In spite of the intense heat and humidity, lakhs of devotees congregated to take part in the world-famous Rath Yatra of the Holy Trinity - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha.
In spite of the intense heat and humidity, lakhs of devotees congregated to take part in the world-famous Rath Yatra of the Holy Trinity - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
After a series of rituals starting at 3 am, the Pahandi (ceremonial procession) of the Trinity began with Sudarshan (the divine discus and weapon of Lord Jagannath) being brought atop Debadalana (the chariot of Goddesses Subhadra) at around 9 am. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
The ritual ended at 12 pm, at least 30 minutes prior to the schedule, with Lord Jagannath being taken atop the decorated Nandighosha chariot. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
Temple musicians played the music with instruments like cymbals, ghantas, mridang, conch shells and bugles while Odissi dancers added to the festivity. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
Prior to pahandi, the temple priest performed homa and consecrated the three chariots after Kanakmundis was fixed atop the chariots. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
Owing to the sweltering heat, many devotees fainted on the Grand Road. Ambulances took the unwell devotees to District Headquarters Hospital through the green corridor set up on the route. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
The strong army of volunteers also carried people who fainted to the health camps set up at strategic locations. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
Apart from providing drinking water bottles to devotees, the district administration and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration provided glucose powder and pouches and fruit juice packets to people in large numbers. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
About 170 platoons of police forces and around 1,000 supervisory officers in the rank of ASI to SP have been deployed during Rath Yatra. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
Security personnel are keeping a close watch and monitoring the movement of devotees with the help of a large number of CCTV cameras assisted by drone cameras connected to a number of control stations. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)
