Raipur - The Annual Car Festival was celebrated by the largest Jagannath Temple of Chhattisgarh at Gayatri Nagar in Raipur with much pomp and massive fanfare. The Mega Ceremony hosted by Shree Jagannath temple Seva Samiti witnessed the congregation of more than a lakh Odia and Non Odia Devotees from Raipur and adjoining areas. In the morning special religious rituals were performed before the Deities in the Temple amidst spiritual fervour. Special Havan was organised here to invoke the blessings of the God. After the conclusion of Havan at around 11.45 p.m. the Pahandi Bije of God Sudarshan, Lord Balabhadra, Debi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were conducted by servitors to the three attractively decorated Chariots parked in the Grand Road in front of the Temple. The entire atmosphere got reverberated with the recitals of hymns, roaring of slogans like Haribol and Jai Jagannath, sounding of Huluhuli, blowing of conch and playing of musical instruments such as Ghanta, Kartala, Mardala, Jhanja and Mrudanga by the devotees. The Temple management Committee under the active supervision of its Founder President and Local MLA Purandar Mishra had made elaborate arrangements to control the crowd and to maintain discipline. Arrangements were made to distribute Mahaprasad among the spectators.
Governor of Chhattisgarh Ramen Deka did Chherapahanra. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai helped him to undertake the job. Other distinguished dignitaries present include Lady Governor Rani Deka Kakoti, her daughter Ayushmita Deka, CM’s wife Kaushalya Devi Sai, Former Minister and M.P. Brij Mohan Agrawal,BJP’s District President Ramesh Thakur, Raipur’s Mayor Minal Choubey, Chairman, State Nagrik Apurti Nigam Sanjay Srivastava and General Secretary of World Odisha Society Krupanidhi Biswal.
In the afternoon the pulling of Chariots commenced. The spectacular view of Royal Sojourn of the Gods and Goddess on board the colourful chariots were memorable and mesmerising. The Sea of Humanities assembled here were at their devotional and emotional best. The holy glimpse of the Broad round eyes of the Black God from atop the Nandighosh Chariot was unique and unforgettable. The chariots were pulled till 1 km to B.T.I ground and then taken back to Temple premises via Shankar Nagar Police Station. At around 6.00 p.m. The Gods and Goddess were taken to Aunt’s House situated at the Basement of the Temple in a procession. The Deities will be worshipped at the Adap Mandap there till the Bahuda Yatra on 24th July 2026.
This year’s Car Festival was well organised and smoothly conducted under the able and active guidance of the custodians of the Temple Management Committee like President Purandar Mishra, Members Manmath Kumar Raut, Subrat Sahoo, Subhaash Agrawal, Gopal Agrawal, Dwarikadheesh Mishra, Gunanidhi Mishra, Prakash Das, Ashok Dubey, Lalit Pradhan, Piyush Mishra, Saurabh Mishra and Ajay Dewta.
All BJP leaders and workers of Raipur City North constituency including women, youth and corporators have helped and co-operated for the thumping success of Rathayatra .
