Puri Rath Yatra: Dakshina Moda Rituals Today As Lords Prepare For Homeward Journey

Puri: The ‘Dakshina Moda’ ritual or the southward turn of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings parked outside Gundicha Temple will be held on Sunday, the sixth day of the annual sojourn.

This marks the beginning of the preparations for the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the sibling deities to the Srimandir after their annual sojourn. 

During the ritual, the chariots parked on the 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 Gundicha Temple.

After agyaan maala or garland of the consent of the Lords arrives from the Gundicha Temple, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra, Darpadalan, is first turned towards the south. It is followed by Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja and Jagannath’s Nandighosh.

The wheels of the chariots are oiled and checked before they are turned.

According to the schedule, Dwarfita niti will be held at 4 am, Bhitra sodha at 4.30 am, Mangal Aalati at 5 am, Mailam-Tadpalagi at 5:30 am, and Abakasha niti at 6 am. Rosha Homa, Surya Puja, Dwarapala and Garuda Puja at 8 am to 9:30 am, Gopala Ballava Puja at 9 am, Sakala Dhupa at 10 am to 11:30am.

The first Bhogmandapa will open from 10:30 am to 1 pm. Later, the Mailam, Yatrangi Mahasnana, Ghantachata Sarbang Niti will be completed by 2:30 pm and then at 3 pm, the deities will be given a makeover with fresh dresses. The Madhyanha Dhupa will be held from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The second Bhogmandapa will be held from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

Mailam, Besha, Sandhya Arati, and Sandhya Dhupa will be offered between 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Then the deities will be taken to Rahasa at 10 pm. Chandana lagi will be conducted at 11 pm.

Bada Sinhara Besha will be at 12 am. This is the last ritual of the day for the deities, where they are prepared to retire to sleep. As a part of the ritual, three beds (made of silver and ornaments) are carried into the main temple. Sayana Thakura is taken into the main temple and placed beside Lord Jagannath. Even jhunaa (smoke) is spread across the main temple to ward off mosquitoes and other pests.

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