Jagannath Rath Yatra: ‘Dakhina Moda’ Ritual For Bahuda Yatra Of Lords In Odisha’s Puri Today

Puri: After the completion of Hera Panchami, Dakhina Moda ritual, which marks the beginning of the preparations for Bahuda Yatra of the sibling deities to the Shree Jagannath Temple, will be held in Odisha’s Puri town on Sunday.

During the ritual, the chariots parked on Saradhabali in front of Gundicha Temple, facing north since Rath Yatra, are turned towards Jagannath Temple in the south. The chariots are then kept near Nakachana Dwara, the eastern gate of the shrine. The chariot of Goddess Subhadra, Darpadalan, is first turned towards the south. It is followed by Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja and Jagannath’s Nandighosha.

It is done after Sakala Dhupa is offered to the deities when the servitors bring ajnamallyas and serve it to the Biswakarmas.

Meanwhile, Mangala Alati of the Lords was delayed this morning as Goddess Mahalaxmi returned to Shree Jagannath Temple around 5.40 am after receiving the ajnamallyas (the consent garland).

According to the tradition, the servitors, carrying representative Goddess Mahalakshmi (known as Subarna Mahalaxmi) in a decorated palanquin, reached Gundicha temple around 3.20 am. His consort Goddess Mahalaxmi is peeved over Him for not taking Her along on the annual sojourn.  She was then taken to the Jaya Bijaya gate where the Goddess threw ‘Moha Churna’ (powder of a herb given to Her by Goddess Bimala) at Her husband. Following this, the Pati Mahapatra offered the ajnamallyas of Lord Jagannath to the Goddess assuring Her that He would return to Srimandir after three days. As the Goddess is unable to meet Lord Jagannath, She breaks a piece of Nandighosa before secretly returning to the Shree Jagannath temple via Hera Gohiri Sahi. Priests and servitors of the Goddess performed the ritual on behalf of the deity.

The Lords will return to Srimandir on June 28 and taken to the sanctum sanctorum with the Niladri Bije ritual on July 1.