Puri: The majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra reached Saradha Bali in front of Shree Gundicha Temple during the annual Rath Yatra in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri on Friday.
A day after the sibling deities embarked upon their nine-day sojourn on Thursday, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot was the first to reach Gundicha Temple, followed by of Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana, and Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha rath.
Notably, the ceremonial pulling of the three wooden chariots had begun on Thursday afternoon. However, the procession was suspended for the night as the scheduled pulling times went past the stipulated traditional hours. The chariots were safely anchored at different points along the wet Bada Danda overnight before the pulling resumed on Friday morning.
Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot had come to a halt at the Market Chhak, while Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana stopped at Marchikote Chhak. Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha moved only a few metres before the day’s procession ended.
On Friday, the chariot pulling resumed a little after 9.30 am. The Adapa Mandapa Bije ritual would be observed on Saturday after all three reached Saradha Bali.
The return Bahuda Yatra is scheduled for July 24, followed by the Suna Besha on July 25.