Puri: An estimated 8 lakh people who thronged the seaside town Thursday pulled the chariots of the Holy Trinity – Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balbhadra and Devi Subhadra – from the Srimandir with much fanfare up to the Gundicha temple.
The auspicious day’s rituals began in the morning with Pahandi Bije of the three deities. Adorned with tahias (giant floral crowns), the three deities along with Lord Sudarsan were brought out of the sanctum sanctorum amid beats of cymbals, drums and gongs in the Pahandi procession to their respective chariots parked in front of the Srimandir.
The rituals were conducted as per schedule with the cooperation of all servitors and devotees, said Shree Jagannath Temple administrator PK Mohapatra.
Lord Jagannath was seated on his chariot Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra on Taladwaja and Devi Subhadra on Darpadalan, along with Lord Sudarshan.
Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati offered prayers to the deities on their respective chariots.
Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Dibyasingh Deb arrived in his royal palanquin and carried out the Chhera Panhara ritual, the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom, amid chanting of hymns by the priests.
People started pulling the chariots around 2.15 pm, Mohapatra said, adding the cars reached Gundicha shrine around 6.40 pm. The mega event was attended by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Ganeshi Lal, Assembly Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and other dignitaries from across the state
The administration had deployed more than 10,000 personnel to ensure security cover for the devotees who congregated at the site since morning, The surging crowd swelled by 10 am spreading the entire stretch of the Grand Road.
The arrival of the three chariots at the Gundicha temple culminates the first phase of the Ghosha Yatra ritual. The deities stay atop their chariots facilitating darshan to the multitudes before entering the Gundicha temple premises.
The nine-day festival concludes with Bahuda Yatra or the return journey of the deities to their abode. Although Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple on other days, people from all faiths participated in the three-km-long procession of juggernauts.
No major mishap or untoward incident was reported until the time of filing this story.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders wished the people of Odisha on the occasion. Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Chandra Sarangi, both of whom are from Odisha, also greeted the people on the occasion.
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