Visakhapatnam: Decked in colourful attires, devotees in large numbers participated in the Rath Yatra that was organised here on Saturday.Also known as Gundicha Yatra, the annual festival is the biggest event in the Odia cultural calendar celebrated by the Odia community with religious fervour and gaiety on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second day in the Ashadha month fortnight).The deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were carried in colourful and decked chariots pulled by devotees amid chanting of hymns and bhajans. The procession was flagged off after the Chhera Pahanra (traditional sweeping of the chariot’s floor with a golden broom) by Lal Saheb Pramod Bhanja Deo of the erstwhile Daspalla royalty at the Jagannath Temple in Daspalla hills.The chariot was pulled by devotees as the procession passed through Daspalla hills, VUDA Children’s Theatre AU Gate, Park Hotel, and VUDA Park to the Gundicha Temple in Lawson’s Bay Colony. It is said that the deities go to their aunt’s place and savour the delicacies prepared by her and stay there for nine days before commencing their return journey, called Bahuda Yatra.J K Nayak, president, Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj, said, “This is the miniature version of the Jagannath Rath Yatra that takes place in Puri. Celebrated with joy, people from in and around the city assemble together to carry out the procession. Processions have been carried out in Visakhapatnam since 1993 because of the presence of a large number of Odias.”Arun Das from the Odia community said, “The festival helps us feel connected to our roots and hometown. The enthusiasm is embedded in each one of us and this festival brings the community on one platform.”Chief commissioner of income tax CR Pati, ex president and ex-commissioner income tax PK Dash were among the devotees who participated in the yatra.International Society for Krishna Consciousness conducted the Rath Yatra at 4 pm which started from the Gandhi statue near GVMC and passed via Jagadamba junction, Dabagardens, Waltair main road, Siripuram and ended at Gurujada Kalakshetram. This year, the higlight was three chariots in a single procession.

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