Jagannath Rath Yatra In Puri: Sibling Deities Go Without Food On Chariots For Delay In Ritual

Puri: All the three majestic chariots of the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri are on Wednesday stationed at Saradha Bali in front of Gundicha Temple.

However, the Lords are made to go without food on their respective chariots due to delay in Gopal Ballav ritual following Abakash Niti. Though Abakash ritual was performed, Gopal Ballav Niti could not be conducted in time, sources said.

While Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra was pulled up to Gundicha temple on Rath Yatra day on Tuesday itself, Darpadalan of Goddess Subhadra and Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath were stopped midway.

Pulling of the two chariots resumed this morning and Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath reached Saradha Bali on Wednesday. Soon after all the three chariots were positioned in front of Gundicha temple, Mangala Alati and Abakash rituals were performed today.

However, there was delay in Gopal Ballav ritual and the temple administration is yet to specify the reason. As a result, the sibling deities had to go without food so far. The delay is stated to have been caused due to lack of coordination.

Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Ranjan Kumar Das said that the three deities will spend the night today on their chariots. The Lords will enter the Gundicha temple tomorrow morning. All the rituals will be performed on the chariots before the sibling deities move in a procession to Adapa Mandap inside the Gundicha temple.