Bhubaneswar, July 24: After completing their nine-day annual sojourn, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra returned to Sribanikshetra today on the occasion of the Bahuda Yatra. The return car festival concluded with great religious fervour and grandeur.
The day began with the performance of traditional rituals, including Mangala Arati, Rosha Homa, Surya Puja, Ratha Puja and Pahandi. After the completion of these rituals, the ceremonial Chhera Pahanra (sweeping of the chariots) was performed at 3 p.m. by Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT and KISS.
At 4 p.m, devotees began pulling the chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. A unique feature of the Rath Yatra at Sribanikshetra is that the chariot of Devi Subhadra is pulled exclusively by women devotees. The three beautifully decorated chariots were taken from the Gundicha Temple back to Sribanikshetra.
More than 30,000 devotees from the surrounding areas gathered to witness the Bahuda Yatra. They participated in pulling the magnificently adorned Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha chariots, seeking the divine blessings of the deities. The entire Ratha Danda (Grand Road) reverberated with the sounds of bells, Mardala drums and the joyous chants of devotees.
The Suna Besha (Golden Attire) of the deities will be held tomorrow. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the KIIT Temple Trust to ensure that devotees can have a smooth and orderly darshan of the deities in their resplendent golden attire.
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