Bhubaneswar: The famous ‘Rukuna Rath Yatra’ of Lord Lingaraj will be held today. The chariot pulling will begin at 3:30 p.m. Mangala Aalati of Lord Lingaraj was held at 5 am.
The Pahandi ritual of the lord will be held between 12:30 pm to 1:30 p.m. The ‘Bahuda’ ritual will be held on April 16.
The water was collected from the Marichi Kunda near the Mukteswar temple on Saptami for Rukuna Rath Yatra. As per the tradition, the water has been auctioned off in two phases. In the first phase, a metal pot of water was auctioned for Rs 1,30,000 while the second was auctioned off for Rs 47,000.
The Commissionerate Police has implemented traffic restrictions from Mausimaa Chhak to Rath Road for today and on April 16. A 12-platoon police force has been deployed for the Rukuna Rath Yatra.
According to the advisory, no vehicles will be allowed on Rath Road from Mausimaa Chhak. They will be diverted either towards Museum Chhak or towards Vivekananda Marg.
Similarly, no vehicles will be allowed on Rath Road from Bank Sahi lane, Maharana sahi lane, Gosagareswar chhak, Sital Sasthi lane, Tinimundia chhak, Harchandi lane, Muna Medical lane, and Punama gate lane or any other lane and by-lane emerging at Rath Road.
Strict security provisions will be made with drinking water arrangements and sheds will be put by the BMC.
The Chariot Festival of Lord Lingaraja is celebrated in Odisha on the day of Ashokastami that takes place in the month of Chaitra. This festival lasts for five-seven days. This festival is believed to be ‘Papa Binashakari Yatra’ which means festival that destroys all evil and sins.
Rukuna Rath is also called ‘Analeuta’ chariot as the chariot does not take any turn during the return journey. The direction of altars of the gods gets changed and the chariot is pulled from backside.
Ms Kalinga