Rath Yatra chariots resume journey to Gundicha Temple in Puri

The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra resumed their journey to the Gundicha Temple on the second day of the Rath Yatra in Puri after delays in rituals halted Thursday's procession, drawing lakhs of devotees despite heavy rain

Puri: The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings resumed their journey to the Gundicha Temple in Odisha’s Puri on Friday as part of the annual Rath Yatra festival that commenced a day ago, officials said.

None of the three chariots had reached the temple, around 2.6 km away from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple, due to a delay in the ‘Pahandi’ rituals on Thursday, they said.

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The deities remained on the chariots overnight.

Amid chants of ‘Jay Jagannath’, lakhs of devotees started pulling the chariots of the sibling deities – Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath – on Friday morning.

In a video message, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, considered the first servitor of Lord Jagannath and the sibling deities, said, “There is nothing wrong in the chariot pulling being held on the day after the scheduled Rath Yatra. Many times, the chariots could not reach the destination on schedule, and they were pulled the next day. The chariot pulling was halted on Thursday due to darkness.”

Lord Balabhadra’s ‘Taladhwaja’ chariot had stopped at Market Chhak after covering around 700 metres on the Grand Road.

Similarly, Devi Subhadra’s ‘Darpadalana’ chariot halted at Marichikote Chhak after covering around 400 metres, while Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nandighosha’ chariot was pulled only for a few yards and remained near Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate) of the main temple, the officials said.

While the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) estimated that 10-12 lakh devotees participated in the Rath Yatra, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) put the turnout at 8-9 lakh.

“There was absolutely no delay in rituals, but the ‘Pahandi’ was delayed by over one hour. Lord Jagannath’s idol did not move for about 40 minutes at the main gate, due to which the ‘Pahandi’ was delayed,” SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee told reporters.

Padhee said the sibling deities would stay on the chariots on Friday night, while the entry procession into the Gundicha Temple, considered the birthplace of the sibling deities, would be held on Saturday.

Despite adverse weather conditions, all rituals were completed on time, but the movement of Lord Jagannath’s idol was delayed by 40 minutes, affecting the chariot pulling schedule, another temple administration official said.

On the absence of the traditional ‘Tahika’ (ornate floral crown) during Lord Jagannath’s ‘Pahandi’ ritual, Padhee said it was removed as it became wet and heavy due to rain.

The annual Rath Yatra is held on the second day of the Odia month of ‘Ashadha Shukla Tithi’ and is the only occasion when the sibling deities are taken out from the ‘Ratna Sinhasana’, the bejewelled throne of the temple.

The chariot pulling had begun on Thursday after the ceremonial ‘Chhera Pahanra’ (sweeping of the chariots) by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and the visit of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, a temple official said.

Amid chants of ‘Hari Bol’, beating of cymbals, and blowing of trumpets and conch shells, a large number of devotees witnessed the festival after the rain subsided.

Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirit of devotees, who were seen dancing and celebrating on the Grand Road.

Special arrangements were made to drain rainwater from the Grand Road and facilitate the procession as devotees pulled the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the 12th-century shrine to the Gundicha Temple.