Jayapur (Koraput): The historical Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was celebrated with devotion in Jayapur of Koraput district on Thursday. As per tradition, the deities were taken out of the temple at 4 pm and placed in the chariot following Pahandi Bije ritual. The chariots will be pulled by the devotees tomorrow.
Elder brother Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were taken to the chariot by servitors of Sunari Sahi. Lord Jagannath was taken by servitors of Samantara Sahi, while the Patitapaban idol was taken by servants of Brahma Sahi.
The holy Trinity- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were placed in one magnificient chariot while Lord Patitapaban was placed in another small chariot. 
Amid the sounds of bells, Sankirtan and drums, the deities were taken to the newly built chariot at the royal palace. There they were circumambulated four times before being placed on the chariot.
After the charamala were laid, devotees climbed the chariot and had darshan of the Lord. Hundreds of devotees stood in long queues holding coconuts to have darshan of Mahaprabhu.
Police were deployed by the town police to ensure peace. Similar chariot processions were held peacefully at Jayapur Old Fort, Bariniput, Ambaguda and Bata Jagannathpur.
Jayapur MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati joined the procession. The chariot pulling will be held on Friday.
This year a new chariot has been built. The earlier chariot was 30 feet high and 22 feet wide with 5-feet wheels. The new chariot stands 42 feet high and 28 feet wide with 6-feet 6-inch wheels. It was built in two months by 14 craftsmen and carpenters.
During the Pahandi, SDPO Achita Mittal, Endowment Advisory Committee President Devendra Bahinipati, Jayapur Tehsildar and Endowment official Sabyasachi Jena, and Town Police Station IIC Ullas Chandra Rout were present.
