Ratha Jatra: Pulling Of Chariots Commence In Puri

Puri: The Bada Danda in Odisha’s Puri turned into a sea of humanity today during the annual Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings– elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra as lakhs of devotees thronged the pilgrim town to witness the chariot festival.

Amid chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Hari Bol’, devotees started pulling chariot of Lord Balabhadra after fixation of wooden horses to the three chariots. Pulling of the three majestic chariots will conclude at the Gundicha Temple here, which is considered as the aunt’s place of the deities.

Earlier, ‘Chherapahanra’ ritual was performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on the chariots.

‘Pahandi’ ritual of the deities began around 8.45 am with Lord Sudarshan being taken to the chariot of Devi Subhadra. Later, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were taken to Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosa chariots, respectively in a ceremonial procession by the temple servitors.

The deities will go on a nine-day sojourn to their aunt’s house and return to Srimandir after the completion of nine days on the day of ‘Bahuda’.