AGARTALA, July 1 (TIWN): Devotees from all over Tripura celebrating annual Ratha Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath began on Friday.

The festival marks the annual journey of the three deities - Lord Jagannath, his brother Bhalabhadra and sister Subhadra.Amid tight security arrangements, Lord Jagannatha’s Rath Yatra began at Agartala Jagannath Bari temple, this morning. 

To mark the festival, ‘Maha Rath Yatra’, a vast number of devotees gathered in the temple right from the morning. After a day-long patience, the Maha Rath was finally started journey around 4.30 pm with Lord Balaram, Lord Jagannath and Lord Suvadra.   

After setting off from the iconic temple, the rath yatra traversed through Raj path in the city.

Thousands of devotees thronged the city streets across the route amid tight security right from early morning to witness the rath yatra. On the occasion, all the devotees prayed for peace, prosperity and rains to the Lords. As a part of the observance of auspicious Rath Jatra festival, the main programme was observed at Melagarh.  Prior to the traverse, all the priests have performed their rituals as per the tradition in the Jagannath Bari temple at Agartala.   The ceremonial procession of the deities known as "Pahandi" - carrying the deities on chariots out of the temple - started from temple. The festival ends after nine days when the deities make their way back to the Jagannath temple.