Puri: Despite overnight rain, an estimated eight lakh devotees from across the country congregated at Badadanda Sunday to witness the annual celestial journey of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to Sri Gundicha Temple.
Pulling of chariots commenced after Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati had a darshan of the deities. Amid chanting of hymns and beating of cymbals, Nandighosh, the vehicle of Lord Jagannath, was pulled by the devout. The car made a wayside halt at Town police station on Badadanda while Taladhwaj, the chariot of Balabhadra made a stopover at Majana Jaga. The chariot of Devi Subhadra, Darpadalan, took a break for the night at Bagala Dharmasala before Sunset.
There were allegations that some devotees touched the deities during Pahandi (procession). Badagrahi of Devi Subhadra, Ramchandra Dasmohapatra alleged devotees touched Balabhadra’s idol while it was being escorted to chariot. The temple administration, however, denied the charge.
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