Puri: The pilgrim town of Puri in Odisha is witnessing huge influx of devotees for the last darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on Adapa Mandapa of Gudicha Temple, which began at 7am on Tuesday.
The last day of darshan of the dieties on Adapa Mandap (i.e. Sesha Darshan on Nabami) at Gundicha Mandir is popularly called as Sandhya Darshan. It was earlier allowed in the evening hours but now restricted till 5 pm in view of Bahuda Yatra the following day. Some important decisions have been made in a meeting conducted under the chairmanship of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) to avoid delays, which was witnessed during Rath Yatra and Hera Panchami this year.
Sources said that elaborate security arrangements have been made for Sandhya Darshan at Adapa Mandap. Five more parking places have been added in Puri, considering the rush. As per belief, anyone offering prayers to the deities on Adap Mandap (in the sanctum sanctorum of Gundicha temple atop the Ratnasimhasan) gets freed from the cycle of rebirth.
After a nine-day long sojourn at Gundicha Temple, Lord Balbhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath will return to their abode Srimandir on Wednesday. The grandiose chariots have been parked at Nakachana Dwara of Gundicha Temple, waiting for the deities for the homeward journey.
During Bahuda Yatra, the chariots will briefly halt at Mausi Maa temple, where Mahaprabhu will relish a special treat of Poda Pitha prepared by the Mother Goddess. The temple is dedicated to the aunt of Lord Jagannath.
