By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s who has set many records in his two decades long political career, was on Tuesday set another record in ‘Crowd Management’ with three gigantic Chariots of Lord Jagannath and his Siblings Lord Balabhara and Devi Subhadra reached Aunty’s House, Shri Maa Gundicha Temple in Odisha’s pilgrimage city of Puri within the stipulated time with no reports of any untoward incidents.
Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, first reached Gundicha temple at 3.52 pm followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana at 4.11 pm. In the end, Lord Jagannath’s chariot Nandighosa reached the destination at around 5.15 pm. The Pahandi ritual at Mausi Maa Temple will be held on Wednesday morning.
The chariots of the Holy Trinity reached Gundicha Temple on Tuesday as the festival of Rath Yatra was celebrated with restrictions as per the Supreme Court’s directive. The three chariots were pulled by police personnel, sevayats, and officials. Devotees were not allowed as curfew was clamped in the district.
Chief Minister Patnaik sought blessings of the Holy Trinity as he watches live telecast of Rath Yatra at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.On this auspicious occasion, the Odisha CM also released special Ratha Jatra issue of Utkal Prasanga and Odisha Review when the chariot of Lord Balabhadra rolled out on Badadanda (Grand Road).
Chief Minister Patnaik thanked everyone including servitors, Puri district administration, Temple Administration, Health Department and police personnel for smooth conduct of the world-famous Rath Yatra. Patnaik also thanked the people of Puri for their cooperation.
CM Patnaik’s thanks has boosted the morale of half dozen IAS and IPS officers, who were given their best to strictly conduct the Rath Yatra as per the Supreme Court order. Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, DGP Abhay, ADG (Law and Order) S Priyadarshi, STJA chief Dr Kishan Kumar, IGP(Operations) Amitabh Thakur, DIG(Central) Ashish Singh , Puri Collector Balwant Singh, Puri SP Umakanta Dash given their best for the smooth Rath Yatra.
Puri Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb who performed Chhera Panhara ritual said it is difficult to imagine Rath Yatra in Puri without devotees, but added that Lord Jagannath must also be searching for His devotees on Badadanda. The Puri king said Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe and he stepped out of Srimandir to give darshan to everybody. As per tradition, the chariot of Balabhadra was pulled first, followed by Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath’s chariots.
Despite the disappointment of numerous devotees for not being able to get a glimpse of Lord Jagannath on this special day from Badadanda, they were content that the Rath Yatra was not cancelled in view of COVID-19 pandemic.The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the conduct of Rath Yatra in Puri only after hearing several petitions filed seeking modification of its earlier order.
