Preparations for the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of Lord Jagannath, began on Wednesday following the completion of the Hera Panchami ritual. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), in coordination with the Puri district administration and police, initiated the process of rotating the chariots for the upcoming event scheduled on July 5.
Devotees continued to enjoy smooth darshan of the sibling deities—Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath—at the Shree Gundicha Temple for the third consecutive day. The three grand chariots—Taladhwaj (Balabhadra), Darpadalan (Subhadra), and Nandighosh (Jagannath)—are stationed at Saradhabali, in front of the Gundicha Temple, believed to be the deities’ birthplace.
As part of the ritual, the chariots are turned southwards (Dakhina Moda) after receiving the Agyanmala (divine permission garland) from the deities. A limited number of servitors and on-duty police personnel are tasked with moving the chariots into position before they are pulled to the Jagannath Temple on July 5.
According to servitor Madhav Pujapanda, who carried the Agyanmala, the rotation of the chariots takes place after the Sakaladhupa ritual. The order of the return journey begins with Darpadalan (Subhadra), followed by Taladhwaj (Balabhadra), and concludes with Nandighosh (Jagannath), aligning at the Nakachana Dwara.
Meanwhile, as per mythological tradition, the Rasalila—Lord Jagannath’s divine dance with the Gopis—commenced on Wednesday at the Gundicha Temple and will continue for three days.
The Hera Panchami ritual, observed on Tuesday night, marked the symbolic expression of anger by Maa Laxmi, Lord Jagannath’s consort, for being left behind during the Rath Yatra. As per custom, she damaged a part of the Nandighosh chariot and returned to the main temple in a ceremonial procession.
