Bhubaneswar: The highly anticipated chariot pulling ceremony of the Rath Yatra has commenced in Puri, with lakhs of devotees gathering to pull the magnificent chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
The grand event, which started at 4 pm, marks the journey of the deities from the Singhadwara of the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, symbolising their nine-day visit to their birthplace.
The chariot pulling ceremony is part of a series of rituals that began early in the morning. The Pahandi Rituals, where the deities were carried out of their sanctum sanctorum, took place at 9:30 am. Later, the Gajapati Maharaja performed the Chhera Pahanra ritual, sweeping the chariots as a mark of respect, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
As the chariots move through the Grand Road, devotees are enthusiastically pulling the ropes, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
The Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra was pulled first, followed by Daba Dalana of Goddess Subhadra and Nandighosh of Lord Jagannath.
