Puri / Pahandi Rituals Complete; Chariot Pulling Scheduled at 4pm for Bahuda Yatra

Puri, Jul 24: The Pahandi Bije ritual of the Chaturdhamurati -- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshana -- was completed at around 2:30 pm on Friday with religious fervour at Saradhabali in Puri, marking the commencement of the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the sibling deities from the Gundicha Temple to the Jagannath Temple.

Deities Escorted To Their Respective Chariots
The ritual began with the ceremonial Pahandi of Lord Sudarshana, who was placed on Devi Subhadra's Darpadalana chariot.

He was followed by Lord Balabhadra, who was escorted to Taladhwaja, then Devi Subhadra to Darpadalana, and finally Lord Jagannath, who was ceremonially taken to Nandighosha amid chants of "Jai Jagannath".

Thousands of devotees gathered at Saradhabali to witness the sacred procession.

Key Bahuda Yatra Rituals Scheduled
Following the completion of the Pahandi Bije, the remaining rituals will be conducted as per the schedule:

Gajapati Maharaja's Rajaniti and Chhera Pahanra: 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Charamala Phita and Ghoda Lagiba: 3 pm to 4 pm
Pulling of the Three Chariots: 4 pm onwards

Also Read: Why Shree Jagannath Temple Puri Conducted Its First-Ever 'Anga Lagi' Ornament Audit in 48 Years

Chhera Pahanra Symbolises Equality
During the Chhera Pahanra ritual, the Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb ceremonially sweeps the decks of the three chariots with a golden broom.

The centuries-old tradition symbolises that everyone is equal before Lord Jagannath, irrespective of social status, rank or position.

Thousands Gather For Return Journey
Thousands of devotees have thronged Puri to witness the Bahuda Yatra, with elaborate security, traffic regulation and crowd-management arrangements in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.