Puri: Spiritual fervour reached new heights in the sacred town of Puri on Saturday as Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra prepared to enter the Shree Gundicha Temple with Adapa Mandapa Bije ritual.
This sacred ceremony marks the culmination of the first phase of the Rath Yatra, officially transitioning the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple into their ‘Janmabedi’ or birthplace for their annual nine-day sojourn.
Despite intermittent heavy rainfall over the past two days, lakhs of devotees converged on Saradha Bali and the vicinity of Gundicha temple, undeterred in their devotion to witness the divine procession. The sibling deities, along with Lord Sudarshan, remained stationed on their majestic chariots—Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana—drawing massive crowds eager for darshan.
To safely manage the massive influx of people, the district police alongside the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) have enforced a strict one-way darshan system to streamline the flow of pilgrims and prevent any untoward incidents. State officials have urged elderly citizens and those experiencing health difficulties to carefully evaluate their physical fitness before navigating the heavy crowds during tonight’s rituals.
According to temple traditions, the Goti Pahandi will begin shortly after the servitors conclude the final pre-requisite rituals atop the chariots. Lord Sudarshan will lead the ceremonial way inside, followed closely by the elder brother Lord Balabhadra, their sister Devi Subhadra, and finally, Lord Jagannath, affectionately referred to by locals as Kalia Saanta. The deities will be formally escorted into the inner sanctum of the Adapa Mandapa, where they are believed to perform their divine plays (Leela) at their place of origin.
Following their entry tonight, public anticipation is building for the distribution of ‘Adapa Abadha’, a highly revered, special holy Mahaprasad cooked exclusively at the Gundicha Temple, which will made available to the public, starting Sunday. Devotees routinely wait an entire year to partake in this specific prasad due to its deep spiritual significance.
On the ninth day of the sojourn, the Lords will return to their abode in what is called ‘Bahuda Yatra’.