[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

As the decked chariots started rolling in the backdrop of July 18 deaths of two women in stampede, the state government heaved a sigh of relief after the Bahuda Yatra passed off peacefully. "No untoward incident was reported. One devotee, who was part of a sankirtan troupe, reportedly died of heart attack while dancing near Gundicha Temple," said DGP Sanjeev Marik. Police also detained a man who climbed the chariots in the guise of a priest.

A wave of spiritualism swayed across the temple town when the reigning Deities were brought out of Gundicha Temple amid a grand ceremony called pahandi. Rhythmic beats of cymbals and gongs and mellifluous sound of conches added music to the euphoric ambience around Gundicha Temple. While Odissi and Gotipua dancers serenaded to the tune of pulsating music in front of chariots, martial artists performed banati, a traditional sport, in front of the Deities.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

The Deities traversed the 3 km Grand Road towards Jagannath Temple soon after Puri scion Gajapati Dibyasigha Deb performed his hereditary chhera pahanra (sweeping of the chariot floors) around 3 pm. The chariot pulling started at 4 pm.

"I was not scared after Rath Yatra's stampede. I was also not worried of rain, which lashed since morning. Though I was drenched, I did not leave before the Deities reached Jagannath Temple," said Sanghamitra Mishra, 52, a devotee from Sambalpur.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

"Like Rath Yatra, we succeeded in starting and completing the rituals in scheduled time. Servitors cooperated with us in solemnizing the rituals," temple's Chief Administrator Suresh Mohapatra said.

The Deities would be taken to the sanctum sanctorum on July 30. "Devotees can catch the glimpse of the Deities on chariots outside the temple till July 30," said Mohapatra.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]