Puri, Jul 15: Amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath' and beating of cymbals, three majestic chariots of sibling deities - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath- rolled towards Srimandir in Puri on the occasion of the Holy Trinity's 'Bahuda Yatra' or return car festival on Monday.

Thousands of devotees pulled forward the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, Taladhwaja, at around 4 PM from Saradha Bali near Shree Gundicha Temple here. The procession was followed by Devi Subhadra in Darpadalana. Lord Jagannath's chariot Nandighosa was pulled at the end.

As per tradition, the trinity along with 'Chakraraj Sudarshan' were escorted to their respective chariots from Sri Gundicha Temple in a ceremonial 'Dhadi Pahandi' (line procession) in presence of lakhs of devotees, marking the beginning of the Holy Trinity's Bahuda Yatra to their abode at the 12th century Srimandir.

The 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping of the chariots) ritual was performed by Puri's titular king Gajapati Maharaja Divya Singha Deb in all three chariots.

The deities will remain seated on the chariots in front of the Lion’s Gate of the 12th-century shrine on Monday night and the ceremonial 'Sunabesha' (gold attire) will be performed on chariots on July 17.

Notably, the deities were taken to Shree Gundicha Temple, about 3 km from the Srimandir on Rath Yatra day on July 7. The deities stayed in the Gundicha Temple, considered as the birthplace of the trinity, for seven days.

Lakhs of devotees have thronged the pilgrim town of Puri to witness the Bahuda Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings today.

As many as 180 platoons (1 platoon comprising 30 personnel) of force and 1,000 officers of Odisha Police have been deployed in the holy city to maintain law and order and crowd management during the Bahuda yatra.

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