Puri: The centuries-old Lakshmi-Narayan Bheta, one of the most cherished rituals associated with the annual Rath Yatra, was performed with religious fervour at Shree Nahar in Puri on Friday evening as Lord Jagannath was His way to the Shree Jagannath Temple during the Bahuda Yatra.
The ritual symbolises the divine reunion of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Lakshmi after the Lord’s nine-day stay at the Shree Gundicha Temple. It reflects the traditional belief that Goddess Lakshmi was upset after Lord Jagannath departed for the annual sojourn with Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra without informing her.
As part of the customary reconciliation, Lord Jagannath sent an Agya Mala (garland of consent) from the Nandighosa chariot, signalling His desire to pacify the goddess before returning to the temple. After the chariot reached Shree Nahar, the palace of the Gajapati Maharaja, the Lakshmi-Narayan Bheta ceremony was solemnly conducted.
The Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb, performed the traditional role of mediator in the ritual, symbolising the reconciliation between the divine couple. Goddess Lakshmi was ceremonially brought from the Shree Jagannath Temple in a beautifully decorated palanquin to meet Lord Jagannath. Following the exchange of rituals and the receipt of the Agya Mala, the goddess returned to the temple amid devotional chants.
The ceremony draws from the rich mythology of the Jagannath tradition. According to temple lore, Goddess Lakshmi, unable to bear the separation from Lord Jagannath, had travelled to the Shree Gundicha Temple during the Hera Panchami ritual in the hope of seeing Him. However, she was denied darshan after the temple gates were closed, compelling her to return disappointed. In a symbolic expression of her displeasure, she is believed to have damaged a part of the Nandighosa chariot before returning to the temple.
The Lakshmi-Narayan Bheta during Bahuda Yatra marks the symbolic end of this episode of divine estrangement and reconciliation, reminding devotees of the values of love, forgiveness and harmony. The ritual remains one of the most emotionally significant moments of the Rath Yatra festivities, drawing thousands of devotees eager to witness the sacred reunion before Lord Jagannath’s ceremonial return to His abode at the Shree Jagannath Temple.
