Bhubaneswar, Feb 20: Ahead of the Rukuna Rath Yatra festival of Lord Lingaraj to be held on April 16, the temple administration on Monday identified two mango trees in Khandapada forest of Nayagarh district.
A team led by Lingaraj temple administration manager Devendra Mohanty headed to Khandapada after taking garland of Lord Lingaraj and Maa Bhubaneswari. Mohanty first met Nayagarh DFO and took permission for cutting of trees for chariot.
Later, they identified two trees and performed a Puja in presence of local Tehsildar and forest officials.
The five-day Rukuna Rath Yatra or the annual Car Festival of Lord Lingaraj will be celebrated on the occasion of Ashokastami in Chaitra month.
The festival is believed to be ‘Papa Binashakari Yatra’ which destroys all the sins. The chariot or Rukuna Rath is also called ‘Analeuta’ as it does not take any turn during the return journey.
