The Rukuna Rath Yatra, the famous chariot festival of Lord Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, was held on Saturday after almost two years.

The yatra was cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic, while in 2021 the chariot was pulled by temple servitors and police jawans without the participation of devotees.

The legend says Lord Ram visited Ekamra Kshetra (Bhubaneswar) in the month of Chaitra and stayed at the Rameswar temple as a guest of Lord Lingaraj in Treta Yuga.

During the Rukuna Rath Yatra, the devotees pull the 35-foot high chariot with the idols of Chandrasekhar, the representative of Lord Lingaraj, goddess Rukmini, Kumara and Nandikesvara placed on it.

The chariot is drawn by the devotees from the 11th century Lingaraj temple to the Rameswar temple and starts its return journey on the fifth day.

Noted research scholar Anil Dhir said: “For the devotees of Lingaraj, the Rukuna Rath Yatra is believed to be ‘Papa Binashakari Yatra’, one which destroys and eradicates all evil and sins. It is the biggest festival of the temple city.”

He said, “For the residents of various Sahis of the old town (old Bhubaneswar), this annual week-long festival is the high point of festivities in which local people take part in large numbers.”