Puri: Winding up their annual sojourn, the Trinity embarked upon their return journey to Shree Jagannath Temple with Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot leading the way on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Odisha’s pilgrim town Puri.
Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad descended on the seaside pilgrim town to participate in the celebrations and witness the homeward journey of the sibling deities. The Lords of the 12th century shrine had been on a nine-day annual sojourn at Gundicha Temple, the place of their birth. The temple was decked up with flowers to bid adieu to the sibling deities.
Ahead of the pulling of the three majestic and colourfully decorated chariots, a number special rituals were performed by the servitors inside the Gundicha temple and near the raths.
The ceremonial procession called ‘Pahandi’ of Lord Sudarshan, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath was performed. The deities were carried in grand procession and taken atop their respective chariots from the inner sanctum of Gundicha Temple concluded ahead of the schedule.
This apart, Bije Pratimas of Ramakrushna and Madan Mohan graced Taladhwaja and Nandighosha respectively.
The pulling of the chariots began in the afternoon amid chants of ‘Hari Bol’, blowing of conch shells and beating of cymbals after Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb performed Chhera Panhara, the ceremonial sweeping of the three chariot floors with a golden broom.
After completion of ‘Chhera Panhara’ ritual by Gajapati Maharaja, the Charamalas were removed from the chariots by Bhoi Sevakas. After the removal of Charamala, ‘Ghodas’ (horses) were mounted on the chariots.
While Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot first rolled towards the 12th century shrine, Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan soon joined the homeward journey. Finally, the devotees pulled Nandighosha chariot of Lord Jagannath with great devotion and enthusiasm. The crowd on the Bada Danda burst into ecstasy as the three majestic chariots rolled towards Shree Jagannath Temple.