The annual Rath Yatra in Khandapada witnessed a continuation of royal tradition as Yuvraj Siddharth Shekhar Singh, son of Bibhuti Bhushan Singh Mardaraj, performed the Chhera Pahanra ritual. Held at the Khandapada Garjat Temple in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, the ceremony saw Siddharth fulfilling the ceremonial duty in place of his father due to health constraints. The act, a significant part of the Rath Yatra, involved Siddharth sweeping the chariot with a golden-handled broom. The event drew large crowds of devotees who came to witness the royal scion’s participation. The Rath Yatra in Khandapada holds historical significance, tracing back to the era of Raja Niladri Singh Mardaraj, who constructed the temple inspired by the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
