Puri Car festival kicks off to a colourful start

Puri, Jun 27: Amidst tight security the nine-day sojourn of the presiding deities of Jagannath temple--Lord Jagannath,Lord Balavadra and Devi Subhadra-- began here this morning with the chanting of 'haribol' and clanging of cymbals in presence of lakhs of devotees.

The three-km long ''bada danda''(grand road) from the Lions Gate of the 12th century edifice to the Gundicha temple witnessed a sea of people, who came to see the world famous car festival.

Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balavadra and sister Devi Subhadra were offered ''gopal bhog''(breakfast) after necessary rituals before being taken out from the ''Ratnavedi'' of the sanctum sanctorum in a ceremonial 'pahandi bije' to their respective well-decorated chariots parked outside the temple.

The temple servitors took the deities on their shoulders from the temple amidst blowing of conch shells through Ananda Bazar and the ''baishi Pahacha'' to the chariots through the Lions Gate under tight security.

As per rituals, Lord Balavadra was first taken out of the 'ratna vedi' and installed in the chariot called 'Taladhawaja' through the ceremonial 'pahandi bije', followed by Devi Subhadra to the 'Darpadalan Chariot' and finally Lord Jagannath, popularly called 'kalia' by lakhs of devotees, to the 'Nandighosh' chariot.

The devotees thronged the Lions Gate for a glimpse of the three presiding deities boarding the chariots to begin their nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha temple.

UNI