Bhubaneswar, Nov. 6: Rath yatra season is long gone, but a boisterous bunch of children sought to revive that spirit by tugging at a miniature chariot of Lord Jagannath today.

Devotional fervour gripped the Adivasi Ground with slogans of Jai Jagannath renting the air as the four-day Anjali Children’s Festival drew to a close this evening.

The young participants, most of them differently-abled, danced to the rhythmic beats that flowed out of the dholaks of a sankirtan group from Puri, pulling the mini-rath from the ground’s festivity centre till the dais, a mere distance of 20 metre. “We pray to the lord to keep us all healthy and happy,” said 12-year-old Akash, flaunting a tattoo of Lord Jagannath on his arm.

Hockey star-turned-Parliamentarian Dilip Tirkey also participated in the festivities and spent time with the children. “It is a always a special feeling to be among children, each of whom is special in their own way,” said Tirkey.

In the last three days, around 600 children from different parts of the country and even abroad, who had been camping on the Adivasi Ground, had observed Id, Halloween and Diwali.

“Our aim is to create an inclusive society and to encourage joyful learning through interactive methods, and to teach love and secularity by celebrating a variety of festivals of different religious communities,” said Sruti Mohapatra, founder and chief coordinator of this festival.

The Rath yatra celebrations were followed by a cultural show in which the participants showcased their talents on stage, singing, dancing and acting without any inhibition. They also put up their art and craft work that they had learnt in various creative workshops.

Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare addressed the valedictory event of the festival. Information commissioner Jagadananda, Vodafone-Odisha business head R.S. Metgud were the other guests.

Mohammad Jaffar Iqbal and Pankaj Bhue, two visually challenged boys who have been selected for the national side and will take part in the World Blind T20 cricket tournament, were felicitated on the occasion.

By the time the programme came to an end, tears replaced smiles on the children’s faces as they bid farewell to each other. “It was an unforgettable experience. I will miss my friends,” said little Priyanka of Rourkela, clinging on to Mohapatra’s neck.