Lakhs of devotees assemble in Puri Saradhabali to witness the pulling of the chariots on Bahuda Yatra
Post News Network
Puri, July 14: Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad flocked to this seaside pilgrim town Thursday to witness Lord Jagannath’s ‘Bahuda Yatra’ (return car festival) amid tight security.
A multi-layer security net was thrown in the town amid heavy deployment of force to ensure smooth celebrations and prevent any untoward incident, a senior police official said.
According to mythology, the three deities – Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra wrap up their annual nine-day sojourn to Sri Gundicha Temple, their birthplace, and return to the Srimandir or Sri Jagannath temple
riding their three majestic wooden
chariots.
Several special rituals were performed before the deities were brought out of the Gundicha temple and placed on the three colourfully decorated chariots for the return journey amid chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’.
The deities were taken to their chariots in an elaborate ritual called ‘Pahandi’ to the beating of gongs, cymbals and blowing of conch shells.
The religious ecstasy of devotees reached a zenith when Lord Jagannath came out of the gate swinging his giant tiara bobbing gracefully while the musicians played their instruments to a rousing welcome.
Lord Jagannath was ensconced in the largest of the three chariots – the 45 feet-high ‘Nandighosh’, Balabhadra in his 44 feet-high ‘Taladhwaja’ and Subhadra in her 43 feet-high ‘Darpadalan’.
The three chariots decked up in colourful livery made for an enchanting sight with thousands of devotees lining up to pull them back to Srimandir.
Gajapati King of Puri Divya Singha Deb performed the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ ritual. He offered prayers to the deities and then swept the platforms of the chariots with a golden broom and sprinkled flowers and fragrant water.
The giant chariots were then pulled by devotees amid gaiety and devotion on ‘Bada Danda’ the grand avenue leading to the Sri Jagannath temple up to the Lion’s gate in front of it where they would be stationed till Sunday.
The deities would finally re-enter the 12th century shrine and again be placed on the ‘Ratna Simhasana’ following an elaborate ceremony which is known as ‘Niladribije’.
The deities would be decorated with ‘suna besa’ or golden attire Friday on the chariots, which traditionally attracts a large number of devotees.
