In Puri, the various rituals connected with the Yatra were conducted since morning and Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra were brought to their respective chariots in a traditional procession called Pahandi.

The chariots were to be pulled later in the day after the Gajapati King of Puri Dibyasingha Deo performed the Chhera Pahanra, the cleaning of the chariots with a golden broom. Several other rituals

were also to be performed before the chariots rolled down the Grand Road starting at 4 pm.

Several lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad have gathered at the Grand Road to witness the journey of the deities from the main temple to Gundicha temple.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and several other dignitaries are also witnessing the Rath Yatra.

The event is telecast live by several television channels including Doordarshan, OTV and ETV-Oriya. Besides, All India Radio is also airing a running commentary of the whole Yatra.

The Yatra is also available for the internet users through www.rathjatra.nic.in

A number of devotional music groups have descended on the Grand Road to perform Sankeertan and chant devotional songs dedicated to Lord Jagannath.

Tight security arrangements have been made in this seaside town to maintain law and order and control traffic in and around the town.

The rolling of the three chariots of the deities will stop at sun set.

In Bhubaneswar, Rath Yatra was being organised at various temples. The major attraction in the city was the Rath Yatra at the ISKCON temple.

As regards the Rath Yatra celebrations in other parts of the State, the towns that were celebrating the festival with great enthusiasm include Nilagiri, Kendrapara, Baripada, Rourkela and Koraput.

The Koraput Rath Yatra was unique as a large number of tribal men and women were to participate in the entire event.

The Puri Rath Yatra will come to an end on July 24 with the Bahuda Yatra of the deities from the Gundicha temple to the main temple.