Rath Yatras in Delhi also

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Thousands of people chanting praises to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Sudarshan and goddess Subhadra joined Rath Yatras modelled on Puri's car festival in the capital today.

Large number of people joined a procession from the Jagannath temple at Hauz Khas near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in South Delhi. Saffron-robed devotees beating Khol and bronze cymbals gave a devotional air as the wooden chariot bearing the deities was pulled.

A traffic official said hundreds of others also joined a similar procession from Lord Jagannath and Badri Nath temple through the congested Old Delhi. Another procession was scheduled at Prem Nagar near Safdarjang Bus terminus in South Delhi.

An office bearer of the Neelachala Seva Sangha Delhi, which has been organising the car festival at Hauz Khas since 1979, said there was delay in starting the procession because of the massive rush of pilgrims near the chariot.

The Yatra was to start with ritual 'pahandi' and 'Chherapanhara' at 1300 hrs. The pulling of the chariot was to start at 1400 hrs once the deities were taken to the chariot, but was delayed by over an hour.

Police had made elaborate security arrangements for the yatras.

Traffic was diverted on Subhash Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Chandni Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, DBG Road and near the AIIMS because of the processions.

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