Koraput, July 5 -- Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday participated in the Bahuda Yatra by pulling the chariot of Goddess Subhadra at Sabar Srikhetra in Koraput district.

Odisha Ministers Suryabanshi Suraj and Nityananda Gond, Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, and other senior leaders, and several senior leaders were also present on the occasion.

In Puri, Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda' Rath Yatra or return car festival formally began with lakhs of devotees pulling the chariot of Lord Balabhadra's 'Taladwaj' (14 wheeler chariot) after ceremonial 'Pahandi' and Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb performing 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping) rituals.

Though the pulling of chariots was slated to start at 4 pm, it began at about 2.45 pm, much...