Dakshina Moda Ritual To Signal Return Journey Of Lords Today

Puri: Preparations for Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the sibling deities to Jagannath Temple in Puri, would start on Thursday with the southward turn of the three chariots parked outside the Gundicha Temple.

On the sixth day of annual sojourn of the Lords, the chariots parked on the Saradhabali in front of Gundicha Temple are turned towards the Jagannath Temple in the south. The chariots are kept near Nakachana Dwara, eastern Gate of Gundicha Temple. This process is known as dakshina moda.

After agyaan maala or garland of consent of the Lords arrives from the Gundicha Temple, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra, Darpadalan, is first turned towards the south. It is followed by Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja and Jagannath’s Nandighosh.

Once the chariots are turned southward, a special ceremony is conducted on the adapa mandap inside the temple. The aunt of the Lords offers baked cake or poda pitha to her nephews and niece on this day.

On Wednesday, Hera Panchami ritual was held that saw Goddess Laxmi being brought to the temple in a palanquin by the servitors. On arriving at the temple, she expressed her anger, following which, the Lord acknowledged her feelings and gave her agyaan mala assuring her that he would soon return to their abode.

Meanwhile, adequate security personnel have been deployed in Puri for smooth conduct of the rituals.