Puri: Pilgrim town- Puri is all set for the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Gundicha Temple to the Shree Jagannath Temple, with the district administration, police and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) completing elaborate arrangements for the annual festival amid forecasts of heavy rainfall.
The Bahuda Yatra marks the return of the sibling deities from the Gundicha Temple, where they had arrived during the Gundicha Yatra on July 16. The deities are scheduled to re-enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple on July 27 during the Niladri Bije ritual.
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said all preparations have been completed for the smooth conduct of the festival. He said the administration has kept dewatering pumps and other logistics ready in view of the forecast of heavy rain, while police have put in place comprehensive security and crowd management measures.
“All arrangements are in place. With heavy rain forecast, the administration has readied dewatering pumps and other logistics. Police have made adequate security and crowd control measures. By Lord Jagannath’s blessings, Bahuda and Suna Besha will be conducted smoothly,” the minister said.
Senior IPS officer Saumendra Priyadarsi, who is overseeing the overall security arrangements, said the Bahuda Yatra traditionally witnesses a smaller turnout than the Gundicha Yatra. However, he noted that the administration is fully prepared, with no compromise on security, traffic regulation and crowd management.
He said the focus would shift to the Suna Besha ritual on Saturday, when more than one million devotees are expected to gather in Puri.
ADG Amitabh Thakur and DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh, supervising traffic management, said around 30 parking locations have been identified to accommodate nearly 8,500 four-wheelers, 30,000 two-wheelers and 800 buses. Devotees have been advised to follow real-time traffic advisories and cooperate with police personnel at diversion points to prevent congestion.
The officers said vehicle movement, parking facilities and traffic flow will be monitored continuously through surveillance cameras and drones.
Meanwhile, the SJTA has held a series of coordination meetings with servitors to ensure timely completion of all rituals. The Pahandi procession is scheduled to begin at noon, during which the deities will be ceremonially escorted from the Gundicha Temple to their respective chariots. The ritual is expected to conclude by around 2.30 pm.
The hereditary Chhera Pahanra ritual will be performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm, after which the chariots are expected to roll towards the Jagannath Temple at around 4 pm.
On Thursday evening, thousands of devotees gathered at the Gundicha Temple for the Sandhya Darshan, which is considered highly auspicious. Many devotees were seen leaving in tears after they were unable to have a final glimpse of the deities before the darshan concluded at 6 pm, highlighting the deep emotional and spiritual significance of the occasion.
Here is the complete Bahuda Yatra Niti schedule:
4:00 AM (Dawn): Mangala Alati
4:15 AM: Mailam
4:30 AM: Tadapa Lagi
4:30 AM: Rosha Homa
5:00 AM: Abakasha
5:14 AM: Surya Puja
5:30 AM: Dwarapala Puja
5:00 AM: Besha Shesha (End of Adornment)
5:45 AM – 6:45 AM: Gopal Ballabha & Sakala Dhupa
7:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Senapata Lagi
11:45 AM: Mangalarpana
Bahuda Pahandi: 12:00 Noon – 2:30 PM
Besha Shesha: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Chera Pahara by Shree Shree Gajapati Maharaja: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Charamala Phita & Ghoda Lagi: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Rath Tana (Chariot Pulling) Begins: 4:00 PM (Afternoon)
