The steel city saw a low-profile Rath Yatra (chariot festival) celebration for the second consecutive year due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In its 14th year, the Jamshedpur unit of Iskcon put off the grand procession organised as a part of Rath Yatra celebration for the second year in a row.

The Iskcon Temple at Cable Town in Golmuri only organised the necessary rituals attached with the festival on its premises.

The rituals were performed on a decked up chariot but the traditional procession with thousands of devotees pulling the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balaram was not taken out.

Iskcon in association with various socio-religious outfits used to organise the city's biggest Rath Yatra. Three chariots carrying the deities used to begin their journey from Ram Mandir in Bistupur. The grand procession covering 6km used to culminate at the Dhalbhum Club in Sakchi.

But, for the second consecutive year Jamshedpur missed the celebration.

Naga Mandir near Beldih Golf Course in Bistupur, which holds the city's oldest Rath Yatra also kept the celebration low-profile.

Rituals were performed on a chariot with few devotees attending it.

Very few devotees turned up to witness the rituals performed by the priests at Utkal Association in Sakchi.

Similar low- profile Rath Yatra celebration was also organised at Baradwari, several other places in the city and adjoining Seraikela.

Earlier, on June 25 the annual bathing rituals of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, brother Balaram and sister Subhadra were held at the Iskcon Temple and other places amid small gatherings.

The celebration will end nine days later with Bahuda Yatra or the return journey of the three deities to their temple.