Puri: Padhandi ritual of the sibling deities, who will embark on nine-day annual sojourn, began at the 12th-century shrine in Odisha’s Puri at around 10.30 am on Friday after the consecration of the chariots – Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath and Madan Mohan, Debadalana for Devi Subhadra and Shri Chakraraj Sudarshan and Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra and Ramakrishna.
Though the ritual was scheduled to begin at 9:30 am, it commenced one hour late and continued for two hours.
The word Pahandi originates from the Sanskrit word Padamundanam, which in the local dialect means a slow step-by-step movement with the spreading of feet.
According to ‘Dhadi Pahandi’ tradition, Shri Chakraraj Sudarshan is taken to the chariot first, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. A wooden cross is fixed to their backs and thick silken ropes are tied around their heads and waists for this ceremonial procession. At the seven-stairs northern exit from the dancing hall, the three deities assemble and receive giant floral crowns, called Tahiya, richly decorated massive headgears offered by the Raghav Das Mutt.
Lord Sudarshana and Devi Subhadra are carried on the shoulders while Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannath are literally dragged through the Pata Agana, Anand Bazaar, inner Lion’s Gate, Baishi Pahacha, Lion’s Gate, Gumuti, Arunastambha and finally to their respective chariots in rhythmic movement amid the beat of cymbals and chanting by the devotees in frenzied ecstasy.
Pahandi ritual of Lord Sudarshan
Pahandi ritual of Devi Subhadra
Servitors conducting Pahandi ritual of Lord Balabhadra
Lord Jagannath being escorted to His chariot
Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb will then perform ‘Chherapahanra’ (sweeping of the decks of three chariots with a golden broom) atop the three chariots. The king will be taken on a palanquin from his royal palace, which is about 300 metres from the temple. The ritual will be completed by 3.30 pm, following which wooden horses will be fixed to the chariots. Sarathis (charioteers) will mount the three chariots before it is pulled by millions of devotees, who have thronged the pilgrim town, at 4 pm to the Shree Gundicha Temple, which is considered their birthplace.
“…The yatra route is full of devotees. All rituals related to the Rath Yatra will be conducted on time. Police have been deployed since last night. This time, NDRF has also been deployed… Yesterday, we removed illegal 6-7 drones. Flying of drones over Shree Jagannath Temple and the Gundicha temple is not allowed,” said Puri collector Siddharth Swain.
Weather forecast
Though there is no heavy rainfall warning for Puri on Friday, thunderstorm, lightning and gusty surface wind speeds reaching 30 kmph to 40 kmph may prevail in the district.
The local administration has implemented adequate measures to address potential waterlogging on Grand Road, where countless devotees will pull the chariots.
Security arrangements
In view of the Pahalgam terror attack and heightened tension between India and Pakistan, Puri has been placed under a five-tiered security blanket for the nine-day-long festival. A total of 200 platoons of police force and eight companies of the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force are stationed in the city. Police deployments have risen from 6,500 last year to over 10,000 this year. An anti-terror squad, armed vehicles, and NSG snipers, along with AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones, have been deployed to ensure a safe festival.