Stage set for festival RATHA YATRA

Puri : The stage is set for the annual Rath Yatra of
Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Lord Balabhadra and
sister devi Subhadra scheduled to begin on Friday.
Lord Jagannath along with His siblings and accompanied
by Sudarshan, Madanmohan and Ramakrishna will
embark on a nine-day sojourn to Gundicha temple riding
three separate chariots along a three-km long route.
Many writers describe the Gundicha temple as His aunt’s
house. However, noted research scholar Dr.Surendra
Mishra, citing a number of old scriptures says the journey
of the Lord Jagannath is from Ratna Vedi to Yajna Vedi
where the Lord manifested.

After Pujapanda servitors handed over Ajnamallyas to the
Biswakarmas of three chariots on Thursday police personnel
and some devotees pulled the three chariots. — Nandighosh
first followed by Darpdalan and then Taladhwaj from the
construction yard and parked them facing the east in front of
the Simhadwar. The three chariots are almost complete.
On Friday servitors will fix Kanak mundi to each chariot and
then lord Hanuman will be placed on it before the Chakra and
the flag is fashioned to the mast.
Srimandir purohit will organise a homa (offerings made
directly to the fire) on Friday to consecrate the three chariots
and parswa debatas (guarding deities) nine in each chariots
before the Lord takes a seat on the chariot. A special set of servitors will fix ladders to each
chariot to facilitate the Pahandi of deities. Inside the Srimandir Daita servitors, soon after
the public viewing closed at about 5 PM on Thursday, dressed up the deities in appropriate
travel clothes. They also fixed Chhena patta and Bahuta Kanta (kind of body armors) to
Trinity before Pahandi begins.
The festival will begin on Friday morning with priests performing Mangal arati at 6 AM
,Mailum, Tadap lagi, Abakash, Surya pooja, Dwarpal puja and Rosahoma. Thereafter
deities will be offered Sakal dhupa. After performing Mangalarpan Daita servitors will
escort the deities in Pahandi procession to their respective chariots. The procession which is
scheduled to begin by 8 AM is expected to be completed by 11.30 PM.
As many as 180 platoons of police besides one thousand experienced officers, Rapid Action
Force, and quick response team are being deployed for the safe and smooth conduct of the
fete. Over fifty CCTV cameras are installed along the Badadanda to monitor the crowd
movement from the integrated control room.
A comprehensive traffic mobility plan is to be implemented. An ambulance corridor
alongside the Badadanda will be created. About five hundred lifeguards are deployed along
the Puri beach for rescue and to prevent drowning in the sea.
The railway has also deployed a good number of RPF and GRP personnel for the annual
event. As directed by the Railway Minister, A tent for accommodating 15000 pilgrims has
been raised in the Railway station complex.
A number of EV vehicles will cater to the needs of elderly and differently-abled devotees
from the platform to the taxi stand. Food court and free food packets for the needy will be
served in the huge tent which is equipped with all basic amenities.
Apart from regular trains, 200 special DMUs will ply to Puri from different locations. The
health department has beefed up its bed capacity by 200 beds with sunstroke treatment
cabins. 220 doctors and paramedical staff have been deputed by the department to Puri for
the fete.
Three high-level review meetings for the festival was held last one was virtually addressed
by the Chief minister. After much hue and cry over the ongoing Srimandir parikrama
project, its replica has been created on the Southern side within the Parikrama limits to
sensitise visitors about the corridor project.
The footfall of devotees to witness Nabajouban Vesha on Thursday was less than on
Wednesday. According to Srimandir PRO J.Mohanty while about 50,000 devotees visited
the pilgrim city on Wednesday about 40,000 visited on Thursday which was less than their
expectation. The PRO said nitee and rituals are running as per schedule and hoped that the
Ratha Yatra would be celebrated smoothly.

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