Daily Pioneer
PURI, INDIA, August 2, 2003: The Grand road in Puri was crowded with people on Tuesday as nearly 1 million devotees turned up to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and His two siblings, Balbhadra and Subhadra. The Deities were carried to their gaily decorated chariots amid the beating of drums and cymbals. The chariots began rolling following the ceremonial sweeping of their decks by Gajpati Divya Singhdeo, the maharajah of Puri, and the worship of the Deities by the Sankaracharya. This Rath Yatra has been one of the most expensive in history. Sources said the total expenditure was around US$400,000, which went into setting up amenities like toilets, water taps and first aid units for the pilgrims, besides feeding the huge contingent of policemen deployed to maintain law and order. Security was heightened in view of the perceived terrorist threat to the 12th century Jagannath temple. Orissa Armed Police were on 24-hour duty as were special anti-riot forces. Puri municipality had made special arrangements for pilgrims and tourists on the sea beach considered to be among the best in the country. Most of the tourists were seen taking a dip in the sea after they had pulled at least one of the three chariots.