Jagannath Rath Yatra: Delay In Mangala Alati, Hera Panchami Rituals Disappoints Devotees In Odisha’s Puri

Puri: A large number of devotees are visiting Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra who are at Gundicha temple during the annual Rath Yatra festival.

However, delay in the conduct of several rituals for the Lords has left the devotees disappointed. The important Mangala Alati ritual was delayed by a couple of hours on Sunday at Gundicna temple, considered the birth place of the sibling deities.

Devotees said Mangala Alati ritual was delayed because of a delay in the conduct of Hera Panchami ritual, which was scheduled to be performed on Saturday evening. Hera Panchami is a tradition followed during Rath Yatra.

Goddess Mahalaxmi embarked upon her visit from the 12^th century shrine to Gundicha temple around 3.20 am and Hera Panchami ritual was performed around 5.20 am this morning. As a result Mangala Alati and other rituals were also delayed, leaving the devotees disappointed.

“Finally Mangala Alati ritual was performed after much delay. It was delayed as Hera Panchami ritual, which was to be done last evening, was conducted only in the early hours of Sunday. The delay had hurt the sentiments of devotees as they were unable to witness the rituals,” said a devotee.

The delay could be attributed to some administrative issues, lack of coordination, and the conduct of Madhyana Dhupa and Sandhya Alati.

As per tradition, Devi Mahaaxmi is taken in a procession to the Gundicha temple in a palanquin by servitors with great pomp and gaiety on Bada Danda (Grand Road) after the conduct of several rituals including Maha Snana, Sarbanga, Besha, and Bandapana rituals.

The Hera Panchami rituals were conducted near the chariot and there was a delay due to some reasons. A large number of devotees waited for long and some returned without witnessing the ritual, said a senior servitor.

Meanwhile, the Dakhina Moda ritual (southward turn) of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings parked outside the Gundicha temple in Puri is scheduled conducted today. This marks the beginning of the process for Bahuda Yatra, the homeward journey of the sibling deities to Srimandir.