Puri: Bahuda Yatra (return journey) of Lords of Shree Jagannath Temple after the annual sojourn will be held in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri on July 15 (Monday).
The grandiose chariots have been parked at Nakachana Dwara of Shree Gundicha Temple, waiting for the deities for the return journey.
According to the tradition, the sibling deities will be taken to the chariots around noon in Pahandi, a ceremonial procession, after completion of ritual at Shree Gundicha Temple and the pulling of the chariots will begin around 4 pm.
SCHEDULE FOR RITUALS
4 am: Mangala Alati
4.15 am: Mailam
4.30 am: Tadapalagi and Rosahoma
5 am: Abakasha
5.15 am: Surya Puja
5.30 am: Dwarapala Puja
5.45-6.45 am: Gopal Ballav and Sakala Dhupa with Khichdi Bhoga
7-11.30 am: Senapata Lagi
11.45 am: Mangalarpana
12-2.30 pm: Bahuda Pahandi
1-2.30 pm: Besha Shesha
2.30-3.30 pm: Cherapahanra
3-4 pm: Charamala Phita
4 pm: Pulling of Chariots
The temple administration have made elaborate arrangement of the return journey of the Lords. Around 180 forces of police and 1000 officers have been deployed in the town in view of the huge rush of devotees and for smooth conduct of Bahuda Yatra.
As the three chariots roll towards Shree Jagannath Temple, they stop for a while at the Mausi Maa Temple, dedicated to the aunt of Lord Jagannath. In this temple, the deities are offered ‘Poda Pitha’, a sweet made of coconut, rice jaggery and lentils, as part of rituals. After spending a brief time in Mausi Maa temple, the deities start their further journey. The chariots of Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra moves forward and parked at Singhadwar (Lion’s gate) while that of Lord Jagannath takes a halt in front of the King’s Palace.
Ahead of Bahuda Yatra, devotees in large numbers visited Shree Gundicha Temple to offer prayers to the deities and consume the Adapa Abadha (mahaprasad). As per belief, anyone offering prayers to the deities on Adapa Mandap (in the sanctum sanctorum of Gundicha temple atop the Ratna Simhasan) gets freed from the cycle of rebirth.
