BARIPADA: Ahead of the world famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, tribals of Similipal Biosphere Reserve area in Mayurbhanj district on Thursday pulled the chariot at Gudialbandh village on the occasion of Snana Purnima. They have been celebrating the festival in their unique traditional way on Snana Purnima since 1987.
While the Trinity of Puri temple take off on their nine-day annual sojourn to their aunt’s place on Rath Yatra, the idols at Gudialbandh village are taken to Mausi Maa for a one-night stay and their return journey starts the next day. As per traditions, the servitors gave a bath to the deities early on Thursday.
Later, the tribal devotees pulled the chariot to aunt’s place, 1 km from the village. The trinity’s return journey will be observed on Friday evening.
Thousands of tribals thronged the village to celebrate the occasion with religious fervour and most of them have never been to Puri to witness the Rath Yatra there.Yogendra, the priest of the temple, said since 1987, the tribals have been celebrating Rath Yatra on Snana Purnima and it is a biggest festival for them who are living in Similipal forest area.