Puri, Ap 12: Ahead of Chandan Yatra, on the full moon day of Chaitra, Bhoi servitors on Saturday retrieved five boats from the holy Narendra Pond under the supervision of Sudarshan Makap and Bhoi Sardar Ravi Bhoi.
The Chandan Yatra which will commence from Akshaya Tritiya, representative deities, Madanmohan, Bhudevi, Sridevi, and Panchu Pandava, will ceremoniously parade to the Narendra pond, where they participate in the ritualistic "chappa khela" (boating sports) to seek respite from the scorching heat.
The ceremony is divided into two parts: one is ‘Bahara Chandana Yatra’ which starts from Akshaya Tritiya and continues for 21 days and another one is ‘Bhitara Chandana Yatra’ that continues for another 21 days.
During this festival, the idols of Madanmohan (representative image of Lord Jagannath), Bhudevi, Sridevi, Ramakrushna and Panchu Pandavas take part in the Chapa Khela or water sports. While the idols are taken in a procession from the Singhadwara to Narendra Pokhari in one palanquin, the Panchu Pandavas come in their respective palanquins. After various rituals, the deities are placed on grandly decorated boats for an evening journey.
