Puri: The chariots of the Holy Trinity reached Gundicha Temple on Tuesday as the festival of Rath Yatra was celebrated with restrictions as per the Supreme Court’s directive. The three chariots were pulled by police personnel, sevayats, and officials. Devotees were not allowed as curfew was clamped in the district.
Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, first reached Gundicha temple at 3.52 pm followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana at 4.11 pm. In the end, Lord Jagannath’s chariot Nandighosa reached the destination at around 5.15 pm. The Pahandi ritual at Mausi Maa Temple will be held tomorrow morning.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik thanked everyone including servitors, Puri district administration, Temple administration, health department and police personnel for smooth conduct of the world-famous Rath Yatra. Patnaik also thanked the people of Puri for their cooperation.
No other person was allowed on the Badadanda apart from servitors, security personnel and other officials of the State government and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
The world-famous Rath Yatra was viewed by millions around the world through their television sets. The entire Puri district was under shutdown restrictions during the pulling of chariots.