Kartik Kumar
Pakur
Thousands of devotees thronged the streets of Pakur on Thursday as the town celebrated its historic annual Rath Yatra, one of the region’s oldest and most revered religious festivals. The grand procession began from the famous Nityakali Temple and proceeded to the Shiva Temple at Bhagat Para before returning to the temple premises.
As part of the centuries-old tradition, the idols of Lord Madanmohan Jagannath and Goddess Radhika were ceremonially taken to their Mausi Bari (maternal aunt’s house) for an eight-day stay. Priests performed special rituals and Vedic prayers before devotees pulled the massive brass chariot through the town amid chants of devotion.
The procession witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with devotees lining the entire route to seek blessings and participate in pulling the chariot. A grand evening aarti was held at the Mausi Bari, attracting large numbers of worshippers.
The Rath Yatra also holds special significance for the region’s Adivasi and Paharia communities, who traditionally participate in the procession with drums, mandars and other indigenous musical instruments.
According to local historians, the festival dates back to Bengali year 1122 during the reign of Raja Pitri Chandra Shahi and has continued uninterrupted ever since. The fair is regarded as an important part of Pakur’s religious and cultural heritage.
The district administration and police made extensive security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Magistrates, police officers and security personnel were deployed at key intersections, along the procession route and throughout the fairground.
Police maintained strict vigil against anti-social elements and said stringent legal action would be taken against anyone found creating disturbances or harassing women. Traffic was diverted on several roads to facilitate the movement of the chariot and devotees.
Senior police officials, including the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and the Officer-in-Charge of Pakur Town Police Station, personally monitored the security arrangements throughout the day.
