Puri, Odisha witnessed a sea of devotees on Saturday as the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra began their Bahuda Yatra, marking their grand return to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple after a nine-day sojourn at Shree Gundicha Temple. The annual Rath Yatra festival’s return leg, also called Bahuda Yatra, is one of the most awaited events in Odisha’s cultural calendar and holds deep spiritual significance for millions of devotees across the world.

The return journey commenced with the ceremonial Pahandi Bije ritual, where the idols of the deities were carried in a grand procession from Shree Gundicha Temple to their respective chariots stationed at Saradhabali. The sacred ritual began at 10:30 AM, nearly one and a half hours ahead of the scheduled time, creating a wave of excitement and devotion among the gathered devotees. The air resonated with the sound of gongs, conches, and cymbals as servitors led the elaborate procession with utmost reverence.

As per tradition, Chakraraj Sudarshan, the divine discus, was the first to be carried out and placed on Darpadalan, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. Devi Subhadra herself was brought out in a unique procession known as ‘Sunya Pahandi’, where the Goddess is carried to her chariot while looking towards the sky. Earlier, Lord Balabhadra was ceremonially seated on his chariot Taladwaja, and finally, the presiding deity Lord Jagannath made his majestic appearance to ascend his chariot Nandighosha, completing the Pahandi rituals.

Prior to Pahandi Bije, several customary temple rituals such as Mangala Arati and Mailam were performed with strict adherence to tradition. Following the seating of the deities on their respective chariots, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deba performed the sacred Chhera Pahanra ritual, sweeping the chariots with a golden broom as a symbol of humility before the Lord.

The pulling of the chariots began earlier than planned, reflecting the efficient coordination of servitors and the enthusiasm of devotees. Taladwaja, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, began rolling at around 2:45 PM, though the schedule had initially fixed the commencement for 4:00 PM. It was soon followed by Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra, and finally Nandighosha carrying Lord Jagannath. The chariots will be pulled along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) for a distance of approximately 2.6 km back to the sanctum of the Shree Jagannath Temple.

As the chariots move towards Shree Jagannath Temple, an atmosphere of devotion and festivity engulfs Puri, with chants of “Jai Jagannath” echoing across the city. This sacred journey marks the conclusion of Lord Jagannath’s annual visit to Shree Gundicha Temple, symbolizing his return to his divine abode and to the hearts of millions of devotees across the world.