Niladri Bije: Deities return to Ratna Singhasana as Ratha Jatra concludes in Puri

Puri: The annual Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra came to an end with the Niladri Bije event as the deities returned to the Srimandir here, today.

The servitors escorted the deities from their respective chariots to the Ratna Singhasana inside the temple in ceremonial procession namely ‘Goti Pahandi’.

According to age-old tradition, as Lord Jagannath neared the Jaya Vijaya Dwara of the temple, Goddess Lakshmi obstructed Him from entering the Srimandir displaying Her anguish for being left alone by Him during the Ratha Jatra.

Lord Jagannath then entreated Goddess Lakshmi to allow Him to enter inside the temple. In this process, He offered Rasagola to Her for appeasing Her. Eventually, Goddess Lakshmi allowed Lord Jagannath to enter the temple.

Lakhs of devotees thronged the pilgrim town to witness the last leg of Ratha Jatra.