Ranchi, July 4: The citizens of the state capital today thronged the city streets to take part in the car festival procession while Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra made their way to their mausi bari today.

Spotted with the general public, was chief minister Madhu Koda, with his wife in tow, who sought the blessings of the three deities.

Human resource development minister Bandhu Tirkey, deputy commissioner Avinash Kumar and Ranchi senior superintendent of police M.S. Bhatia were not far behind Koda and were seen walking along with the procession.

Today was a day for both the young and the old, as everybody took a turn to pull the chariots’ ropes as it was led through the streets with the beat of drums. Traditionally attired women, and men in dhotis, offered pujas.

Any rath yatra is incomplete without the mela. As is the custom, there were fairs galore for the public and this time artisans from far-off Purulia, Jhalda, Sonahatu and Nayasarai came to be a part of the fair. There were sweets, musical instruments, bamboo products and palm leaf mats at the fair — up for grabs.

“We make the mandar (a musical instrument) with clay and hide. They are priced at Rs 200 or 250 each. The dholak is made of the bark of simul tree and is smaller in size than the mandar. We had a splendid sale on the first day of the fair,” admitted Birju Das, an artisan from Purulia (Bengal).

Kumni or bamboo baskets used to catch fish, bamboo umbrellas and palm leaf mats were also in great demand at the fair. Bows and arrows from Sonahatu sold like hot cakes.

While children were trying their hands at the smaller ones, parents bought the larger version for home décor.

S.K. Marmokar, an artisan from Jhalda, said: “People believe buying swords during the fair is very auspicious as they are used basically for rituals like animal sacrifices that are a part of many pujas.

“We buy various parts like the metal body, the wooden hilt and the sheath from Calcutta, assemble them at home and come and sell them here.”