Khandapada Rath Yatra: Yuvraj Siddharth Shekhar Singh Undertakes Chhera Pahanra Ritual

In a display of devotion and tradition, Yuvraj Siddharth Shekhar Singh, a member of the Khandapada royal family, performed the Chhera Pahanra ritual at the Khandapada Rath Yatra. This significant act took place at the Khandapada Garjat Temple in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, during the annual Rath Yatra dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Siddharth stepped in for his father, Bibhuti Bhushan Singh Mardaraj, who was unable to attend due to health reasons, thus continuing the family’s legacy. The ceremony involved Siddharth using a golden-handled broom to symbolically sweep around the chariot. This event was attended by a large number of devotees, reflecting the deep-rooted religious fervor and cultural pride associated with the Rath Yatra, a tradition that originates from the era of Raja Niladri Singh Mardaraj.