Water sports festival of Lord Jagannath begins

Puri, Apr 20 (UNI) The twenty-one day long water sport summer festival of Lord Jagannath,popularly known as ''Chandan Yatra'' began today in traditional style and gaiety.

The day also marked the beginning of the construction work of the three chariots for the annual Rath Yatra, to be held on July 16 this year.

Madanmohan,the representative idol of Lord Jagannath,his consort Laxmi, along with Panch Mahadevas (Shivas)--incarnation of panch pandavas, went in a colourful procession,in decorated palanquins,through the Grand road known as ''bada danada'' to the Narendra tanka,huge water body, situated about 1.5 kms from the temple' for boat ride to beat the summer heat on the auspicious occasion of ''Akshyaya Tritiya.'' The deities were escorted by temple servitors carrying the palanquins over their shoulders to the tunes of the devotional orissi bhajans. The youths of various Jaaga ghars (martial arts units) accompanied the deities in large numbers displaying their skills.

The rhythmic body movements of palanquin bearers in concert with swinging of the top half of the decorated palanquin is a rare treat for the pilgrims and devotees who accompany the deities and participate in the bathing ritual.

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