Puri: Amid relentless monsoon showers, chants of “Jai Jagannath” reverberated through the holy town of Puri on Thursday as the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra commenced, drawing lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad.

Despite heavy rain, devotees thronged the 2.6-km Grand Road from the early hours to witness one of the world’s oldest and largest religious processions. Authorities enforced extensive security and crowd-management measures to ensure the festival passed off peacefully.

Lakhs of devotees gather in Puri

Nearly 2 lakh pilgrims had arrived in Puri ahead of the festival, prompting the Odisha government to implement elaborate arrangements for security, traffic management and emergency response.

Thousands of devotees lined the ceremonial route despite the rain, eagerly awaiting the Pahandi ritual, during which the sibling deities are ceremonially carried out of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple and placed on their massive wooden chariots.

According to the festival schedule, the Pahandi ritual was conducted between 9 am and 1 pm, marking the beginning of the annual journey to the Shree Gundicha Temple, traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Lord Jagannath.

Chariots begin journey after Chhera Pahanra

Following the completion of the Pahandi ritual, the traditional Chhera Pahanra ceremony was performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri.

During the centuries-old ritual, the Gajapati Maharaja symbolically swept the three chariots with a golden broom, signifying humility and equality before the deities.

After the ceremony, the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were scheduled to begin their procession at 4 pm towards the Shree Gundicha Temple.

Security tightened after last year’s tragedy

Security arrangements were significantly strengthened for this year’s Rath Yatra following the stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple during last year’s festival, which claimed three lives and left several others injured.

Authorities deployed nearly 13,000 personnel, including members of the Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Forces, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, to oversee security across the coastal town.

Officials said surveillance, crowd control, emergency response and traffic regulation had been enhanced to safely manage the expected influx of devotees.

Heavy rain fails to dampen celebrations

Puri received 143.8 mm of rainfall on the eve of the festival, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast additional rain and thunderstorms during the day.

To prevent disruptions to the procession, the district administration deployed pumps and strengthened drainage systems along the Grand Road to prevent waterlogging and ensure the smooth movement of the towering wooden chariots.

Despite the inclement weather, devotees participated enthusiastically in the religious celebrations, chanting hymns and pulling the chariots with deep devotion.

Rath Yatra celebrated across India

While Puri remains the spiritual centre of the festival, Jagannath Rath Yatra was also celebrated with religious fervour in several other parts of the country.

Large processions and special prayers were organised in cities including Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where thousands of devotees gathered to participate in the annual celebrations.

Temple officials also confirmed that the customary visit of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati took place before the chariots commenced their journey.

With lakhs of devotees participating despite persistent rainfall, the annual Rath Yatra once again showcased the enduring spiritual significance of Lord Jagannath’s journey, while authorities remained focused on ensuring a safe and orderly conduct of one of India’s most revered religious festivals.