Rath Yatra: Hera Panchami Ritual Celebrated With Grandeur In Puri

Puri: The Hera Panchami ritual was celebrated in the pilgrim town with grandeur on Friday night.

This ritual, observed on the fifth day of Rath Yatra, symbolises the anger of Goddess Laxmi who was left behind in the Jagannath temple by her husband, Lord Jagannath while he and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra went on a 9-day annual sojourn to Gundicha temple.

The servitors carried the idol of Goddess Lakshmi from the Srimandir to the Gundicha Temple in a beautifully palanquin. After knowing that Goddess Mahalaxmi is coming to meet him and is angry, Lord Jagannath asks his servitors to quickly lock the door of Gundicha Temple.

She feels insulted and gets angry and to teach Her husband a lesson she asks one of her servitors to break a part of  Nadighosha chariot, the Rath of Lord Jagannath. On her return she avoids the Bada Danda and returns to the Jagannath temple via Hera Gohiri Sahi. The unique ritual was enjoyed by a large number of devotees.

In order to please her, Lord Jagannath promises her to return to the Srimandir after three days and as a mark of his promise, Agyan Mala (a garland of consent) is offered to Goddess Laxmi on behalf of Lord Jagannath.

This also sets the process for the return of the Trinity to the main temple. The chariots will be given a South Turn (dakhsina moda) tomorrow after the Lord presents ‘Agyan Mala’ signifying His consent to turn the three chariots. The process begins after the morning nitee at the Adapa Mandap.