Amidst the scorching heat, an awe-inspiring event unfolded on June 20 in the coastal town of Puri as an immense crowd of devotees gathered to witness the magnificent Rath Yatra. This annual procession, originating from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple, features three revered deities: Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra.

As anticipated, a massive number of people, amounting to lakhs, flocked to the town using various modes of transportation, eagerly securing their spots along the revered route to catch a glimpse of the deities riding in their elaborately adorned chariots. Such an opportunity is considered immensely auspicious.

Despite the temperature soaring above 35 degrees Celsius and the humidity reaching 69% by 11 a.m., the devotees persisted, vying for space along the three-kilometer stretch famously known as the Grand Road—the venue of the Rath Yatra. Leading up to this magnificent Car Festival, countless devotees arrived on Monday to witness the darshan (sacred sight) of the deities adorned in the special 'Naba Jouban' attire.

The day commenced with the Sevayats, the traditional priests of Shree Jagannath Temple, performing a series of intricate rituals inside the temple premises. The servitors skillfully swayed the colossal idols in a rhythmic motion as part of the ceremonial practice called 'pahandi.' Devotees stood motionless, with folded hands or prostrated in deep devotion for the deities, while many others danced in sheer ecstasy.

This was followed by a customary ceremony known as 'Chhera Panhara,' during which Puri's titular king, Divyasingha Dev, performed the ritual. After offering prayers, Mr. Dev meticulously cleaned the wooden platform of the three chariots using a golden broom and sprinkled fragrant water on its surface.

Once all the rituals were completed, hundreds of police personnel diligently harnessed their efforts to tow the three chariots --Taladhwaja (Lord Balabhadra), Debadalan (Devi Subhadra), and Nandighosh (Lord Jagannath -- along the Grand Road. The air reverberated with the joyous chants of 'Haribol' and 'Jai Jagannath.'

To ensure a seamless and incident-free event, the state government had deployed 187 platoons of police personnel to manage the crowds and prevent any acts of sabotage. Over 1,000 officers led these dedicated individuals. Additionally, numerous closed-circuit cameras were strategically positioned to monitor the proceedings of the Rath Yatra and ensure the security arrangements were in place.

The esteemed presence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw added to the grandeur of the occasion. They were present in Puri to witness the grand Rath Yatra unfold.

The Rath Yatra festival spans nine days, during which the sibling deities will return from the Mausi Maa temple. The idols will be reinstalled in the Shree Jagannath Temple before other significant rituals, such as the 'Suna Besa' (golden attire of the deities) and Adharapana, take place. 

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