**Kendrapada/Baripada:** Even though the world-renowned Puri Rath Yatra and the auspicious occasion was celebrated on Wednesday (Ashadha Dwitya Tithi as per the Hindu almanac), it is being celebrated at Kendrapada and Baripada towns in Odisha on the day after the Puri Rath Yatra.
Devotees in large number have thronged ‘Tulasi Khestra’ of Kendrapada to witness the Ratha Yatra of Lord Baladev Jew on Thursday.
As per reports, the ‘Bramha’ of Lord Baladev Jew was placed on the chariot on Wednesday (Ashadha Dwitya Tithi).
As per the tradition, the chariot was pulled for only 100 metres on the day after the ‘Bramha’ of Lord Baladev Jew was placed on it.
The chariot was pulled in the afternoon on Thursday, sources added.
It is believed that witnessing Ratha Yatra of Lord Baladev Jew after getting a glimpse of the Puri Ratha Yatra, a devotee attains Moksha (salvation).
Similarly in Baripada on Thursday, Ratha Yatra is being celebrated traditionally a day after the car festival in Puri.
Like the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra will be pulled by the devotees first followed by the chariots of Devi Subhadra and finally the chariot of Lord Jagannath.
A unique feature of the Baripada Rath Yatra is that the chariot of Devi Subhadra is pulled exclusively by the women devotees.
Earlier on Wednesday (Puri Rath Yatra Day), the deities were brought to their respective chariots in ‘Goti Pahandi’, reports said.