Bhubaneswar: Pulling of Rukuna Rath or chariot of Lord Lingaraj with the participation of devotees began at 4.30 PM today on the occasion of Ashokastami.
After completion of pahandi ritual, the representative idols of Lord Lingaraj along with Gopalini (Parvati), Kumara and Nandikesvara and an image of Govinda were placed in the chariot that started on its five-day yatra from Lingaraj temple to Mausi Maa temple.
A large number of devotees took part in the pulling of the chariot amid chanting of hymns in the praise of Lord Lingaraj to the sound of gongs, cymbals, and beating of drums.
Devotees who were deprived of the divine pleasure of pulling the chariot for the last two years due to Covid-19 restrictions were in an ecstatic mood giving a damn to summer heat.
The Commissionerate Police had made elaborate arrangements including traffic restrictions from Mausi Maa Chhak to Rath Road.
Due to Covid restrictions, Rukuna Rath Yatra was cancelled at the last moment in 2020 and it was held without the participation of devotees in 2021.
Pulling of the chariot had to be stopped midway at Tinimundia Chowk after sunset. As per the rule, the chariot is not pulled after the sunsets. It will be resumed tomorrow morning after the conduct of rituals.
