Puri: The sacred Pahandi rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra began in Puri on Friday, marking the commencement of the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the Holy Trinity from the Gundicha Temple to the Shree Jagannath Temple.
Amid chants of “Jai Jagannath”, the blowing of conch shells, ringing of bells and cries of “Haribol”, the holy town of Puri witnessed a surge of devotion as thousands of devotees gathered along the Grand Road to witness the divine procession.
The ceremonial journey began with Lord Sudarshan, whose Pahandi ritual was completed first, followed by Lord Balabhadra. After completing their respective rituals, the deities were taken to their chariots and placed on them as per tradition.
The Pahandi of Devi Subhadra was performed next, while the much-awaited procession of Lord Jagannath marked the final phase of the divine movement of the Holy Trinity from the Gundicha Temple premises.
As the Pahandi of Lord Jagannath began, the entire Grand Road reverberated with devotional chants, with devotees seeking a glimpse of the Lord during the auspicious return journey.
According to the schedule prepared by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, the rituals for Bahuda Yatra began early in the morning with Mangala Alati at 4 AM, followed by Mailam at around 4:15 AM and Tadapa Lagi at 4:30 AM.
The traditional Chera Pahara ritual by Gajapati Maharaja Shree Shree Dibyasingha Deb is scheduled between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM. Following the completion of the rituals, the pulling of the chariots, known as Rath Tana, will begin around 4 PM.
The Bahuda Yatra marks the return of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to the Shree Jagannath Temple after their nine-day stay at the Gundicha Temple. The occasion is considered one of the most significant rituals of the world-famous Rath Yatra and attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country.
