Pics: 2-Day Rath Yatra Begins Amid Lord Jagannath Chants, Lakhs Of Devotees Attend
NDTV
The Rath Yatra festival will be a two-day affair being held after 53 years.
The grand annual Rath Yatra, also known as the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, commenced in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri today. The Rath Yatra festival will be a two-day affair being held after 53 years.
Some celestial arrangements have made it a two-day event. Rath Yatra was last held for two days in 1971.
The famous yatra began with the triad -- Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra -- ascending on their respective chariots in a grand ceremonial procession amid chants of "Jai Jagannath".
It began with the Phandi ritual in which the deities are brought from the temple to their respective chariots. Lakhs of devotees thronged the holy city of Puri to have a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra and pull their chariots 'Nandighosh', 'Taladhwaja' and 'Darpadalan' respectively.