Devotees Swarm Bada Danda To Witness Bahuda Yatra

Puri: The Bahuda Yatra began in Puri on Sunday with the Pahandi of the Trinity to the chariots at the Gundicha Temple.

Braving incessant rain, devotees in thousands thronged the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to witness the return journey of the sibling deities to the Jagannath Temple.

The Pahandi of Lord Sudarshan to the Darpadalana chariot of Devi Subhadra began at about 9.50 am. Once the Lord was placed on the chariot, Pahandi of Balabhadra began at 10.10 am followed by Devi Subhadra at 10.15 am and Lord Jagannath at 10.40 am.

After performing the Kusumi Lagi rituals of the Lords between 2.30 am and 3.30 am, the Daitapati servitors began the Bahuda rituals with Mangala Alati at 4 am, Mailam Lagi at 4.25 am, Tadapa Lagi and Rosa Homa at 4.30 am, Abakash at 5 am, Surya Puja at 5.15 am, Dwarapala Puja and Besha Sesha at 5.30 am, Gopala Ballava and Sakala Dhupa between 5.45 pm and 6.45 am, Senapata Lagi and Mangalarpana between 7 am and 9 am.

After the Pahandi of the Lords to the chariots, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb would perform the Chhera Panhara ritual on the chariots.

Pulling of the chariots would begin at 4 pm once the charamala (ladder made of palm wood) from the chariots and the wooden horses fixed between 3 pm and 4 pm.