Puri: A significant ritual of Rath Yatra, Hera Panchami, was observed on Thursday night as the Rath Yatra entered the fifth day.
The chariots will be turned southward in a process called Dakhina Moda today, marking the beginning of Bahuda Yatra of the trinity.
Hera Panchami is a captivating tradition in which Goddess Mahalaxmi expresses her anger towards her husband Lord Jagannath as he embarks on a nine-day journey to Gundicha temple along with his siblings.
As per the ritual, Goddess Laxmi damaged a part of the Nandighosh chariot of Lord Jagannath out of anger.
According to the tradition, Goddess Laxmi came out of the Srimandir in a palanquin amid a grand procession on Bada Danda and reached at the Nandighosh chariot in front of the Gundicha temple.
“Goddess Laxmi came to meet her husband and ask him why he left her behind at the Srimandir and embarked on a nine-day sojourn along with the siblings. But, unable to meet her husband, she damaged the Nandighosh rath out of anger,” said Pujapanda Samant, a servitor.
She receives an ‘Agyan Mala’ (garland of consent) but cannot enter the Gundicha temple as the door is closed, making her feel neglected and angry. To express her frustration, she instructs her servitors to damage part of Lord Jagannath’s chariot.
The ritual portrays Goddess Laxmi’s anger towards Lord Jagannath for staying away from Srimandir during the Rath Yatra and not taking her along.
Later, she repented for her actions and returned to Srimandir through Hera Gouri Sahi without fanfare.
