Ranchi: Devotion and festivity gripped Ranchi on Thursday as thousands of devotees thronged the historic Jagannath Temple and lined the streets to witness the annual Rath Yatra. Chief minister Hemant Soren and governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar offered prayers before the deities were taken out in a grand chariot procession, marking one of the city’s biggest religious celebrations.Addressing devotees, Hemant said the state govt would work to give greater recognition to the historic Jagannathpur Temple by strengthening its presence on the state’s tourism map. He announced that a grand gateway would soon be built on the approach road to the temple to make the landmark more prominent. “Devotees wait throughout the year for the Rath Yatra. In the coming years, efforts will be made to make the Rath Yatra fair even grander,” he said.Devotees began arriving at the temple as early as 3am, with long queues forming before dawn for darshan and puja. After traditional rituals, priests brought out the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra and placed them on the ornately decorated chariot amid the sound of conch shells, temple bells and chants of “Jai Jagannath”.As the chariots rolled out, thousands of devotees pulled the ropes, considering it an act of faith and good fortune. The procession moved through cheering crowds as bhajan mandalis, traditional drummers and cultural troupes added to the festive atmosphere.The annual fair around the temple drew large crowds throughout the day. Stalls selling sweets, toys, handicrafts, wooden artefacts, household goods, handloom products and local delicacies witnessed brisk business, while giant wheels and other amusement rides remained packed with families and children.“It is not just a festival but an emotion for us. We have been coming here with our family every year for decades. Pulling the chariot fills us with peace and devotion,” said Rajesh Kumar, a devotee from Doranda.For many children, the fair was as much an attraction as the religious festivities. “I wait for Rath Yatra every year because of the giant wheel, food stalls and the festive atmosphere. This time I also got to pull the chariot for the first time,” said 12-year-old Adit Singh, who visited the fair with his parents.The celebrations will continue over the next 10 days, with the fair expected to draw nearly 10 lakh devotees and visitors from Ranchi and neighbouring districts. The festivities will culminate with the Bahuda Yatra, the return chariot procession in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will be ceremonially taken back to the Jagannath Temple after their stay at the Mausi Bari temple.