Puri: The Bahuda Yatra, marking the return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Shree Gundicha Temple to the Shree Jagannath Temple, commenced in Puri on Friday amid religious fervour and the chants of “Jai Jagannath” from lakhs of devotees lining the Grand Road.
The homecoming of the sibling deities forms the concluding phase of the annual Rath Yatra festival, which began on July 16. The deities had been staying at the Shree Gundicha Temple, revered as their Janma Bedi or birthplace, during the nine-day sojourn before embarking on the return journey.
After the completion of the ceremonial Pahandi Bije and the traditional Chhera Pahanra ritual performed by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, devotees pulled the three towering chariots from Sharadhabali towards the Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate) of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple along the nearly three-kilometre Grand Road.
The day’s rituals began at 4 a.m. with Mangal Alati at the Shree Gundicha Temple. The Pahandi Bije ritual commenced around noon, during which Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannath were ceremonially escorted in Dhadi Pahandi to their respective chariots, Taladhwaja and Nandighosha. Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshan were taken to the Darpadalan chariot through the customary Sunya Pahandi ritual.
Following the completion of Pahandi, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, regarded as the foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath, carried out the Chhera Pahanra ritual by sweeping the chariots with a broom having a golden handle symbolising humility and equality before the divine.
The Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra was the first to begin its journey at around 4.37 p.m., followed by the Darpadalan chariot of Devi Subhadra and the Nandighosha chariot of Lord Jagannath.
The atmosphere in Puri resonated with the sound of conches, cymbals, gongs and devotional hymns as pilgrims, servitors and security personnel participated in the grand religious procession.
Once the chariots reach the Singhadwar, the deities will remain on the chariots for the next phase of rituals. A large congregation of devotees is expected on Saturday for the Suna Besa, when the deities will be adorned with gold ornaments, and on Sunday for the Adharapana ritual.
The annual Rath Yatra celebrations will conclude on July 27 with Niladri Bije, marking the ceremonial return of the sibling deities to the sanctum sanctorum of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
