**Puri**: Rath Yatra 2018 has begun with the first mega ritual ‘Pahandi’ (ceremonial procession of deities) has begun in the pilgrim city, in which the lords are brought out of the ‘Bada Deula’ (sanctum sanctorum) crowned with ‘Tahias’ (floral crowns).
Lord Sudarshan, considered to be the pilot god, led the ceremonial procession as per the religious tradition.
This was followed by the ‘Pahandi’ ritual of revered eldest brother Lord Balabhadra. As Lord Sudarshan and Lord Balabhadra have already ventured out to the ‘Bada Danda’ (Grand Road), Devi Subhadra’s ‘Pahandi’ follows the suit.
Lord Jagannath being the cynosure and darling of the crowd, ventures out of the Srimandir in ‘Pahandi’ at last but His ceremonial procession is not the least as devotees wait for Him with bated breath.
The Holy Trinity are pulled, pushed and dragged amidst loud chants of ‘Hari Bola’ and ‘Jai Jagannath’ accompanied by the loud beats of cymbals, drums and gongs. The whole ritual, called as ‘Pahandi Bije’ is carried by the servitors and devotees in ecstasy.
The deities are carried to their respective chariots. The chariots are then pulled by the devotees after the Gajapati King of Puri conducts the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ ritual sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom.