Puri, Jul 2: The revered Hera Panchami ritual was observed late last night at the Gundicha Temple where Goddess Lakshmi expressed her displeasure, breaking a part of Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosa chariot near the Temple.

This ritualistic gesture, rich in symbolic meaning, captivated thousands of devotees on the Grand Road (Badadanda).

As per temple custom, Hera Panchami commemorates the moment when Goddess Lakshmi, feeling ignored as Lord Jagannath embarked on the Ratha Yatra without her, visits him at the Gundicha Temple in a grand procession.

Accompanied by temple music — ghanta, kahali, and traditional beats — her journey is both majestic and emotionally charged.

Upon reaching the Nandighosa chariot, the sacred "Dahi Pauti Manohi Niti" was performed. Following this, the Goddess approached the Jay Vijaya entrance of the temple. However, with evening incense rituals underway, temple doors were closed before she could enter — an act perceived as a slight against the divine consort.

In a poignant response, the Goddess exited through the Nakachana Gate and symbolically damaged the chariot’s wheel, a gesture reflecting her divine indignation. She then proceeded through Hera Gohiri Sahi back into the sanctum of Srimandir, her pride and heartbreak echoing through every step.

The crowd witnessed not just a ritual, but a celestial drama echoing devotion, mythology, and the depth of divine relationships.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Bahuda Yatra—the return journey of the deities—have begun. All three chariots are set to be turned southward today, moving from in front of the Gundicha Temple’s Singhadwara to Nakachana Gate, setting the stage for the grand return of the Lord.

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