Odisha ‘Bahuda Yatra’: Chariots reach Singha Dwara without a hitch

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, July 7:

Nearly six lakh devotees today witnessed the Bahuda Yatra or the return journey of the three deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra- nine days after they had stepped out the Sri Mandir in Odisha’s holy city of Puri.

The three chariots arrived at the Singhadwara of the main temple in the evening.

The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration had made elaborate arrangements for timely completion of rituals.To ensure smooth conduct of the festival, the district administration had made elaborate security arrangements with deployment of 104 platoons of armed police force.

Earlier in the day, the Daitapati servitors performed the rituals of the Lords after which the dhadi pahandi began at 10.30 am with Lord Sudarsan placed in Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariot.

Later, the servitors brought the three deities, one after another, in Pahandi style to their respective chariots.

At 1.40 pm, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performed Chhera Pahanra or the symbolic sweeeping of the platform of the three chariots. The pulling of the  Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra began at 2.55 pm , followed by the Darpadalana chariot of Devi Subhadra and the Nandighosh chariot of Lord Jagannath.

The Suna Vesha (golden attire) of the deities is scheduled tomorrow while the Aadharpana ritual would be held the day after.

The deities would finally return to their abode, the Ratna Singhasana,  in the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple on Thursday.