As per tradition, the titular king, who was carried in a silver-plated palanquin to the Shree Jagannath Temple, offered prayers to the deities seated on the chariots.
He cleaned the floors of the chariots with a gold broom, as priests chanted Sanskrit 'slokas' and sprinkled flowers and fragrant water.
The ritual, performed before devotees got their turn to pull the chariots, is emblematic of the belief that all are equal before the almighty.
Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, also considered the first servitor of Lord Jagannath, performed 'aarti' to the deities and greeted the people after completion of the ritual.
“It is a divine blessing for my family and me for being allowed to serve Lord Jagannath and sweep his chariot on Rath Yatra," Deb said.
The 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual is also performed by the titular king on the occasion of 'Snana Purnima' (Lord Jagannath's bathing ritual) and 'Bahuda Yatra' (return car festival).
