Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, July 6:

In an unexpected happening, the neta (flag) put atop Lord Jagannath’s chariot Nandighosha snapped and fell on the ground while the pahandi of the deities during the Rath Yatra festival in Odisha’s Puri was underway.

The flag was spotted by a servitor on the ground and was put back in place. However, the unprecedented incident has hurt the sentiments of devotees and servitors alike.

“I found the neta fastened atop Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha chariot on the ground. It could be a caution or sign for something bad to happen in future,” servitor Dinabandhu Pujapanda expressed.

This sort of incident has never happened earlier. May God save us from troubles. Lord Hanuman’s loincloth (langot) is tied to the chariot. Hanuman protects the chariot, he added.

As per the ‘Ratha Pratistha’ ritual in the morning, the flag was set up atop Nandighosha. However, it got separated from its position minutes after tying it, possibly due to strong windflow.

The servitors and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration are responsible for the embarrassing incident.