Pottangi: The annual Rath Yatra was celebrated on Friday in the disputed Kotia Panchayat of Koraput district—a day after the festival was observed across the state—amidst allegations by local journalists that the block administration had not informed them in advance.
Following traditional rituals on Thursday, the Rath Yatra procession was taken out on Friday in accordance with local customs. The rituals were conducted by Prashant Kumar Panda, the priest of Shabar Shrikhetra, and Muguri Tadingi, the temple’s daily priest. Devotees and public representatives subsequently pulled the chariot to the Gundicha Temple, which had been set up at the local Anganwadi centre. Participants included Pottangi MLA Ram Chandra Kadam, Koraput MLA Raghuram Machha, former MP Jayaram Pangi, former MLA Pitam Padhi, Koraput Collector Manoj Satyavan Mahajan, Superintendent of Police Rohit Verma, and other district officials. The ceremonial ‘Chera Pahanra’ ritual was performed by former Kotia Sarpanch Sidheswar Gemel before the commencement of the Rath Yatra.
Several dignitaries were also felicitated during the event. However, local media representatives alleged that the Pottangi block administration failed to issue prior notification regarding the event, despite its significance in the disputed Kotia region. Nevertheless, journalists from the district and block joined the procession and covered the event. The alleged lack of communication from the block administration has drawn criticism.
