Puri all dolled up to witness world-famous Rath Yatra today
Puri, the pilgrim city, is all prepared to host the much-anticipated world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, in the presence of thousands of devotees today.
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Puri: Puri, the pilgrim city, is all prepared to host the much-anticipated world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, in the presence of thousands of devotees today.
The deities will be delighted by Ratna Singhasan and will emerge from the Ratna Singhasan in Dhadi Pahandi to board their respective Rath (Chariot) which will be waiting in front of the temple. Lord Balabadra will board the Taladhwaja Rath, while Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath will ride in the Debadalan and Nandighosh cars.
The procession of the deities from Dhadi (Line) Pahandi to Raths, accompanied by the beating of cymbals and Ghants, fills the hearts of the devotees, who flock in their thousands to seek the divine entities' blessings.
The devotees are drawn to the swinging of Tahiya on Lord Balabhadra's and Lord Jagannath's heads.
Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati and his disciples will visit Raths and offer prayers to the deities after the deities have been seated on them. Following that, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb will perform the most magnificent Chherapahanra ritual (sweeping the floors of the Raths).
Dragging of Raths will begin after all rituals, including Chherapahanra, have been completed. Thousands of devotees and police officers will drag the Raths down the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to the Shree Gundicaha Temple.
The Ratha Yatra, which begins today, will last nine days.
