The Baldevjew chariot in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Thousands of devotees cutting across caste and creed barriers turned out in front of the chariot during the annual Baldevjew rath yatra here today.

Tulashi Khetra, the abode of Lord Baldevjew, was abuzz with activity with followers of the Jagannath cult converging at the Grand Road here to pull the chariot. Thousands of devotees from nearby areas, as well as Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur districts, witnessed the grand spectacle as the Lord stepped out the temple’s sanctum sanctorum to ascend on the chariot.

For the devotees, it was a much-awaited event. As the deity, attired in all grandeur, embarked on the chariot, devotees vied with one another to catch glimpse of the Lord.

Puri rath yatra may be a global event drawing lakhs of devotees, but the annual car festival of Lord Baldevjew in Kendrapara holds its distinctive religious significance in the annals of Jagannath culture.

“It has many distinctive characteristics, strikingly different from the Puri rath yatra. As the deity is the revered elder brother of Jagannath, Baldevjew’s rath yatra is a pious event. The believers of Jagannath cult attach immense importance to it,” said Nrusingha Prasad Patri, a servitor.

“Since Lord Baldevjew is the elder brother of Lord Jagannath, his chariot here is larger in size. The 72-feet chariot of Lord Baldev, brother Jagannath and sister Subhadra is at least 12 feet more than the Puri chariots,” said Balram Suar, former trustee member of Baldevjew temple.

“Unlike the practice that is in vogue in Puri, the deities are taken out of the temple in one chariot. The chariot is colourfully decorated and pulled the devotees to Sri Gundicha temple. Adhering to tradition, the car festival is observed for two days in Kendrapara, widely known as Tulasi Khetra while elsewhere, it’s a one-day affair,” said Girish Chandra Kar, convener, Tulashi Khsetra Unnayan Parishad.

With this region having a sizeable Muslim population, a large number of them come to see when the chariot is pulled. “Though they are debarred from pulling the chariot, they watch the event at the Grand Road probably out of curiosity. For Muslim traders, it’s an awaited event. Because, trade is brisk during this part of the year,” said Mohammad Akbar Ali, former chairman of Kendrapara Municipality.

For devout Hindus, Tulasi Kshetra is as sacred as the Sri Kshetra of Puri, Ekamra Kshetra of Bhubaneswar, Viraja Kshetra of Jajpur and Arka Kshetra of Konark.