Puri: Lord Jagannath and the sibling deities are set to enter the Gundicha temple Saturday in a culmination of the first phase of Rath Yatra in Puri, which witnessed a massive influx of devotees for the “Adapa Bije” ritual regardless of the overnight downpour.
The chariots of the three deities reached their destination of Shree Gundicha Temple Friday afternoon, a day after Rath Yatra, and the idols stayed on the carriages overnight as is the tradition.
This is followed by the “Adapa Bije” ritual, when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will be carried to the temple, considered the birthplace of the sibling deities, in a procession.
The return car festival, called Bahuda Yatra, will be held July 24.
Roads leading to Puri were chock-a-block with traffic as the seaside temple town witnessed a massive influx of devotees while waterlogging following heavy rains compounded people’s woes.
The local administration deployed high-capacity pumps to drain out the water.
Additional Director General of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi, who is in charge of the Rath Yatra festival, said police are on high alert since Friday night.
“We have been issuing alerts on the traffic situation through media and social media so that people can plan their journey to Puri from Bhubaneswar. There is an unending line of vehicles extending over 60 kilometres on National Highway-316 from Bhubaneswar to Puri,” he said.
In view of the gridlock, the traffic control room set up at Puri requested visitors to postpone their journeys by some hours till the number of vehicles on the national highway reduces.
Officials of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and Puri district administration said that the town witnessed a massive flow of devotees Friday night and Saturday because people wanted to have a glimpse of the deities seated on their chariots.
The India Meteorological Department forecast moderate rain with one or two intense spells in Puri Saturday. The pilgrim town received 86.6 mm rain in 24 hours till 8.30 am.
