Navi Mumbai: The Jagannath Temple at Sector IV in Kharghar hosted annual Car festival with fanfare and spiritual fervour. Thousands of Odia and non–Odia devotees alongwith their family members gathered here to witness the grand religious ceremony. Commencing from the morning all the religious rituals were performed before the deities in utmost solemnity and unfettered devotion.

In the afternoon the Pahandi Bije of the Gods and Goddess started from the sanctum sanctorum. First Lord Sudarshana, then elder brother Lord Balabhadra, followed by Devi Subhadra and at the end Lord of the Universe Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath were taken in a procession to the colourfully decorated chariot stationed in front of the temple. The entire atmosphere got reverberated with recitals of hymns, shouting of slogans like Hari Bol, Jai Jagannath and playing of musical instruments such as Ghanta, Mardala, karatala, Jhanja and Mrudanga.

President and Trustee of Maharashtra Odia Welfare Association (MOWA) Dr. Bhagwan Panda conducted the traditional sweeping on the chariot called Cherrapahanra.

The pulling of chariot began in the afternoon and reached at the Aunt’s house popularly known as Gundicha Mandir in the evening.

The arrangements were done by Trustees Dr. Bhagwan Panda, Balaram Patro, B.S. Patnaik, Dr.Manoj Kumar Nayak, Dr.Ketan Gokhale ,B.C. Khatua, G.S. Gill, Capt. S.P. Rao, Bighnaraj Parida, Maguni Raut, P.M. Mahapatra and Dr.Rabinarayan Mishra.