Puri, Jul 18: The holy town of Puri is bracing for one of the most revered ceremonies of the annual Rath Yatra as the "Adapa Mandap Bije" rituals commence on Saturday. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan will ceremonially move from their respective chariots into Gundicha Temple, drawing lakhs of devotees to witness the divine spectacle.

Adapa Mandap Bije, considered among the most sacred rituals of the Yatra, involves the ceremonial transfer of the deities from their respective majestic chariots through elaborate pahandi processions into the sanctum of the Gundicha Temple. The ritual signifies the deities’ annual stay at their “maternal abode,” believed to be their birthplace, away from the main Jagannath Temple.

Yesterday, the three majestic chariots—Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana—remained stationed in front of the Gundicha Temple, where devotees thronged to offer prayers and catch a glimpse of the deities seated atop them. Servitors performed sacred rites on the chariots before the ceremonial procession carried the idols into the Adapa Mandap. Once installed, the deities will remain there for the next six days until the Bahuda Yatra, offering devotees a rare opportunity for darshan.

It is widely believed that a single darshan of Lord Jagannath at the Adapa Mandap bestows immense spiritual merit, equivalent to countless acts of piety. The temple administration has made extensive arrangements to ensure orderly darshan, deploying additional security, crowd management systems, and medical facilities to handle the massive influx of pilgrims.

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The rituals will culminate in the deities’ playful stay at the Janmabedi (birthplace) symbolizing divine pastimes. From Sunday onwards, devotees will be allowed to have darshan inside the Adapa Mandap, an occasion that comes only once a year during the Rath Yatra.

The sanctity of the ritual, combined with the devotion of millions, underscores the enduring cultural and spiritual significance of the festival, which continues to bind generations of Jagannath’s followers.