Bhubaneswar, April 5: One of the prime festivals of Lord Lingaraj, the Rukuna Rath Yatra in Bhubaneswar began on Saturday.
The Lord Lingaraj embarked for his aunt’s house bedecked in a Rath, pulled by thousands of devotees this afternoon, on the holy Asokastami.
Following a number of formal rituals the idol of Lord Lingaraj was taken out in a grand procession and carried onto a well-decorated ceremonial chariot called the Rukuna Rath. After the consecration of the Rukuna Rath with performing a number of traditional rituals by the core servitors, thousands of devotees pulled the chariot towards the Mausima Temple. However, the divine Lord took a mid-way sojourn at the Kapali Mutt due to sunset where a special puja was offered to the deity and the side Gods & Goddessess enthroned on the sacred rath.
According to the Lingaraj temple administration, the Rukuna Rath Yatra will be resumed tomorrow at about 2 PM and the Lord will be escorted to his aunt’s abode by the evening.
