Bhubaneswar: The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings were pulled to the Lions’ Gate of Srimandir from Srigundicha temple in Odisha’s Puri city on the occasion of Bahuda Jatra today.

Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra was the first to reach the Lions’ Gate of the 12th century shrine followed by Darpadalan chariot of Devi Subhadra. Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath was the last to reach the Srimandir gate.

The three chariots were pulled towards Srimandir from Srigundicha temple one after another soon after the completion of Chhera Panhara ritual by Gajapati King Dibyasingha Dev.

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Taladhwaja chariot was pulled towards Srimandir at around 1 pm followed by Darpadalan chariot and Nandighosa chariot, said a senior official of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.

The deities were offered Podapitha on their respective chariots on the Grand Rod near Mausi Maa temple during their return journey, he added.

Earlier in the day, the deities were escorted to their chariots from Srigundicha temple through the ceremonial Pahandi procession.

The Pahandi procession commenced at around 8.20 am as Lord Sudarsan was taken to the Darpadalan chariot of Devi Subhadra.

Lord Balabhadra’s Pahandi began at around 8.50 am followed by that of Devi Subhadra at around 9 am. The Pahandi procession of Lord Jagannath commenced at around 9.30 am, said the official.

Thousands of devotees from across the Odisha and other places in the country thronged Puri city to watch the Bahuda Jatra (Return Car Festival). The state government and the Puri district administration made elaborate security arrangement for smooth conduct of the festival.