Malkangiri July 21 [UDN}: Rath Yatra, Odisha’s most celebrated festival, is not just a religious event but a symbol of devotion, faith, dedication, and universal brotherhood. Celebrated every year on the second day (Dwitiya) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha, the festival was observed with great enthusiasm at Balikshetra in Balimela.
Hundreds of devotees, pilgrims, and local residents gathered to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. Following traditional rituals and worship, the deities were ceremonially carried in the sacred Pahandi procession and seated on their chariots by the temple servitors and devotees.
The entire Balimela region echoed with chants of “Jai Jagannath” as devotees thronged for the divine darshan. The rhythmic beats of mridanga, ringing bells, and devotional chants created a deeply spiritual atmosphere.
The Chief Engineer of the Potteru Irrigation Project performed the ceremonial Chhera Pahanra (royal sweeping of the chariot), following which the pulling of the chariots began. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, enthusiastically participated in pulling the chariots.
After the chariots reached the Gundicha Temple, devotees offered prayers and worshipped the sacred offerings (Prasad). Later in the night, the deities were ceremonially taken in a Pahandi procession to the Mausi Maa Temple by the Brahmin servitors.
To ensure the festival concluded peacefully, police personnel led by Orkel Police Station officer Deb Dutta Mallik maintained strict security arrangements. Volunteers from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), along with officials from the Electricity Department, Fire Services, and other volunteers, actively assisted in managing the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra.
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