Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 27: Like every year this year too lakhs of devotees from across the state participated in the famous car festival of the Lingaraj temple here Friday. The festival is popularly known as Rukuna Rath Yatra.
From early morning devotees started to gather in and around the temple premises to take a glimpse of the God and to take blessings.
Sushmita Malik, a teacher in a government school in Bhadrak, came all the way to participate in the festival. “I have heard a lot about the Rukuna Rath Yatra, and this year I have managed to come here to be a part of the festival. I came early in the morning and went to the temple and now am waiting for the Rath Yatra to start. Earlier also I tried to come here, but failed to attain; this year I am lucky enough,” she said.
There were other first timers attending the Yatra as well. And they were more than elated to have got the opportunity to be part of the show.Around 25 groups of NSS units from Salipur Autonomous College volunteered in order to help the temple administration provide water to the devotes, to sprinkle water on everyone to provide comfort from heat and to help devotees in case medical emergency.
The Rath has traveled half the distance on its way to the Rameswar temple and will cover the other half tomorrow. After reaching Rameswar temple, all the deities will stay there for three days and will start the return journey on April 1.
