Bhubaneswar: Rath yatra concluded peacefully in the city with more than 30 chariots being pulled.

Adequate police personnel were deployed in the city for smooth conduct of the festival.

While the chariots of Iskcon temple were pulled by thousands of devotees, chariots pulling at VSS Nagar, Jagamara, Dumuduma, Old Town and Baramunda was attended by hundreds of devotees.

Heavy rainfall in the afternoon failed to deter the devotees, who continued to flock on large numbers. "It started pouring heavily in the afternoon, but luckily, the rain was stopped just before the chariot pulling. The cool weather attracted a number of devotees," said Alok Mohapatra, an Iskcon devotee. The city received rainfall of 40mm in the afternoon.

Rath yatra at Patia village, which used to be princely state during the British rule, was one of the major attractions in the city. The festival had been stopped for the last 78 years before it resumed by local people in 2010. Similarly, Shrivani khetra of KISS on Saturday celebrated the festival amid religious fervour and gaiety. Thousands of devotees took part in pulling the three decorated chariots of the Trinity. The special feature of Ghosayatra at KISS is that, Devdalana, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra, is pulled by only females.

"It was a life-time experience as there are very few places in the state in which chariots are pulled by female servitors only. Hope more number of females will be attracted in coming years to pull the chariot," said Smita Biswal, a devotee.

More than 40 platoons of police were deployed, while traffic restrictions were also imposed. Movement of heavy vehicles was controlled on the national highway passing through the city. The police said adequate personnel remained present near Rasulgarh and Palasuni to help tourists visiting Puri.