Puri Rath Yatra: Lord Jagannath Steps Out Of Temple To Give Darshan To His Devotees

Puri: Amid enchanting symphony of gongs, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were placed on their respective chariots after the Pahandi rituals on Tuesday morning.

Lord Balabhadra made his way to Taladhwaja chariot and Lord Jagannath to his Nandighosa chariot while Goddess Subhadra was carried to Darpadalan chariot by the servitors. The Lords are carried to the chariots amid the rhythmic swaying of their Tahiya or the traditional headgear.

The Chherapahara ritual is scheduled for 11.30 am. The chariots will be pulled thereafter, around 12 pm.

Prior to Pahandi, morning rituals of Arati, Avakasha, Rosa homa (puja in the temple kitchen), Surya and Dwarapala Puja, Sakala Dhupa (morning offering-specially cooked food), Mangal Arpana, Doralagi, Puspanjali and Tuli offering, Mailam Lagi and unfastening of deities were conducted inside the 12th-century shrine.

The Schedule

• ‘Mangala Aalati’ ritual of the sibling deities will be performed at 3 am followed by ‘Mailama’ and ‘Tadapa Lagi’ at the temple.
• ‘Abakasha’ ritual of the deities will be performed at 4.30 am.
• ‘Gopal Ballava’ and ‘Sakala Dhoopa’ will be held from 5:30 am to 6:45 am.
• The ‘Ratha Pratishta’ ritual will be observed at 6:45 am.
• The ‘Pahandi ritual’ (procession) will begin at 7 am.
• The sibling deities will board the chariots at the Singha Dwara facing towards the Gundicha Temple by 10 am.
• ‘Madan Mohan Bije’ will be held from 10 am to 10.30 am.
• ‘Chita Lagi’ of the deities will begin at 10.30 am and conclude at 11 am.
• ‘Chherapahara’, a major ritual of the annual festival, will be held at 11.30 am.
• Pulling of the three chariots will begin at noon.
• ‘Chherapahara’ will be between 11.30 am and 12.15 pm. Servitors will attach horses and charioteers to the three chariots during this period.

With curfew being strictly imposed in the town in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive, denizens are watching the live telecast of the mega festival in the confines of their homes.