Massive devotee turnout marks Rath Yatra; chariots to resume journey today

LORD Jagannath devotees will get another chance to pull the chariots tomorrow as none of them reached their destination on Friday after Balabhadra's Taladhwaja chariot got stuck while negotiating a turn, causing delays that prevented the others from arriving at Gundicha Temple, 2.6km away from the 12th-century shrine.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

"There is no major issue. It is not unusual for chariots to be pulled on the following day. All rituals were conducted on time. There have been no accidents or untoward incidents," Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said.

When Lord Balabhadra's chariot came to a halt at Balagandi Chhak, Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan was stopped at Marichkote in Puri town. Meanwhile, Lord Jagannath's Nandighosh chariot was only symbolically pulled as part of the ritual and remains parked near the main temple.

Explaining the delay, the Minister said, "Due to favourable weather conditions, the number of devotees was nearly one and a half times higher than usual. Those who came specifically to pull Lord Jagannath's chariot will have the opportunity to do so tomorrow."

The minister announced that chariot pulling was suspended for the day at 8 pm.

He said all the rituals were completed in accordance with the schedule.