Puri, July 7: Amid chants of Jai Jagannath, the pulling of chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra began at around 5 pm in Odisha’s Puri today.
Lakhs of devotees, who thronged the Grand Road in the pilgrim city to witness the grand Rath Yatra, first pulled the chariot of Lord Balabhadra – ‘Taladhwaja’ towards the Gundicha Temple along with the servitors and police personnel.
As per the tradition, Devi Subhadra’s ‘Darpadalana’ and Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nandighosa’ follow Lord Balabhadra’s ‘Taladhwaja’ during their nine-day sojourn.
The pulling of chariots began soon after Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb performed the ‘Chhera Panhara’ rituals on the chariots.
Before this, idols of the holy trinity were placed on their respective chariots, following the spectacular Pahandi rituals.
Earlier today, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Puri Grand Road to have darshan of the Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Odisha Chief Minsiter Mohan Charan Majhi, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other dignitaries inlcuding Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Puri MP Sambit Patra also offered prayers at the Grand Road.
