Puri: The three chariots Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath pulled by lakhs of devotees reached in front of the Singha Dwar or Lions Gate of the Shree Mandir before evening after completing their nine-day sojourn to their birthplace-the Shree Gundicha temple.
As on Gundicha Yatra-the first leg of the annual Rath Yatra, Pahandi of the deities was completed much before the scheduled time.
En route, the deities were offered poda pitha at the Mausima Temple.
Pahandi of the deities began much ahead of the scheduled time. Pahandi of Lord Sudarshana was held first, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
As per tradition, Puri’s titular king and Lord Jagannath’s adya sevak (foremost servitor) Maharaja Gajapati Dibya Singha Deb reached the Saradhabali and performed Chhera Panhara (the sweeping of the chariots) atop the three chariots.
Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja was the first to roll at around 1.30 PM. Then it was the turn of Devi Subhadra’s chariot Darpadalana and the last to roll was Lord Jagannath’s chariot Nandighosha.
