**Puri**: The sweeping, cleansing and sanctifying ritual of ‘Chhera Pahanra’ on the Raths commenced at 12.30 on Sunday afternoon for Holy Trinity’s Bahuda Yatra. The premier ritual performed by the ‘Adhyasevak’ Gajapati Maharaj marks that the chariots are now ready to be pulled from Gundicha temple back to Srimandir.
The age-old religious tradition signifies ‘ego-less labor of dignity’ and that everyone is equal before the Holy Trinity irrespective of caste, creed, or class status. The ‘Chhera Pahanra’ is performed while an ocean of devotees bow down to seek Lord’s blessings.
Incumbent Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singhdeb was escorted to the three chariots seated on a ‘Tamjan’ (royal palanquin), where he performed the rite at 12.30 in the afternoon.
At first he was warmly greeted by the sebayats (temple servitors) to the Taladhwaja Rath (chariot of elder brother Lord Balabhadra) where he sprinkled sacred and scented water and swept around the chariot with a gold-handle-topped broomstick. He finally descended after offering his due obeisance in shape flower and ‘tulsi’ (sacred basil) and also ‘alati’ to the Lord.
The same ritual of ‘Chhera Pahanra’ was also performed in turn on the Nandighosha Rath (chariot of Lord Jagannath) and the Taladhwaja Rath (chariot of Devi Subhadra).
‘Chhera Pahanra’ ritual heralds the much-awaited pulling of the chariots when the juggernauts start rolling down the ‘Bada Danda’ from Gundicha temple back to Srimandir pulled by the devotees amidst cheers of ‘Jay Jagannath’ and ‘Hari Bol’. The annual nine-day sojourn for Lords Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra finally comes to an end.
In the evening, the devotees will witness the ‘Suna Besha’ when three Lords will be all decked up in glittering gold ornaments on their respective chariots. Next day, the Holy Trinity retires back to the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple after some rituals.
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