Baripada/ Jeypore/ Kendrapara: A day after the world witnessed the grand Rath Yatra in Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, chariots of the Holy Trinity will be pulled as per the unique tradition at Ditiya Sreekhetra Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, Tulasi Khetra Kendrapara and Sabar Khetra Koraput today.
Considered as Ditiya Sreekhetra, the Rath Yatra of Haribaldev Jew Temple at Baripada, a 13-day celebration is considered as the most significant chariot festival of Lord Jagannath behind Puri Rath Yatra. As per tradition, the Holy Trinity’s chariots are pulled here a day after the conclusion of chariot festival in Puri.
Yesterday, the ceremonial ‘Pahandi Bije’ of the three deities was carried out after getting ‘Agyan Mala’ from Ambika Temple and later the ‘Ratha Pratista’ rituals were also completed.
Today, the pulling of Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra and Debadalana chariot of Devi Subhadra will begin at around 3 PM. While the chariot of Lord Balabhadra will be pulled to the Gundicha Temple today, Debadalana will stop midway and along with Nandighosa, the two chariots will be pulled to the Mausi Maa Temple tomorrow.
The most important specialty of the Rath Yatra in Baripada is that only women devotees pull the chariot of Devi Subhadra here.
Similarly, in Jeypore which is often referred as Sabara Sreekhetra, the chariots of the Holy Trinity will be pulled today with pomp and joy. For the first time, this year, the three deities will travel to the Mausi Maa Temple in different chariots unlike the previous times when the Holy Trinity used to embark on their annual sojourn on a single chariot.
In Koraput, after the three siblings deities were brought to their respective chariots in ritualistic Pahandi yesterday, the ‘Chhera Panhara’ (sweeping of chariots with gold broom) was performed.
In Kendrapara Town which is also known as Tulasi Khetra, the 64-feet-high ‘Brahma Taladhwaja Ratha’ of Lord Baladevjew was pulled for some distance on Thursday and parked near Endowment Office. The pulling of the chariot will resume today as per tradition.
The festival in Kendrapara is celebrated for two days and deities are taken on a single chariot for their annual sojourn. The chariot is made up of 1,223 pieces of wood and has 14 wheels.