Puri: The sacred city of Puri is once again immersed in devotion as the pulling of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra is set to resume on Friday morning. After Thursday’s procession concluded with the chariots halting at different points along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), lakhs of devotees have begun arriving in the pilgrim town to witness and participate in the remaining journey to the Gundicha Temple.
The atmosphere in Srikhetra has turned deeply spiritual, with devotees from across Odisha and different parts of the country thronging the Grand Road since the early hours of the day. The administration has made elaborate arrangements for crowd management, security, traffic regulation and emergency services to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
Chariot Pulling to Begin at 9:30 AM
According to the Rath Yatra schedule, the morning rituals of the Holy Trinity will first be performed atop their respective chariots. Following the completion of these rituals, the ceremonial pulling of the chariots is scheduled to begin at 9:30 am.
Devotees will pull Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja, Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalana, and Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha towards the Gundicha Temple, one of the most significant events of the annual Rath Yatra celebrations.
Chariots Halted at Different Locations
During Thursday’s procession, the three chariots covered varying distances before halting for the day.
- Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja stopped near Fire Station Square.
- Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalana halted at Marchikote Square.
- Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha moved only a short distance from the Singhadwara before coming to a halt.
The procession will resume from these respective locations, with thousands of devotees expected to line the Grand Road to pull the chariots towards their final destination at Saradha Bali, near the Gundicha Temple.
SJTA Chief Explains Nandighosha Halt
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said all rituals, including the sacred Pahandi Bije, were conducted smoothly and with devotion by the servitors.
Speaking about the brief movement of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Padhee said the exact reason behind the early halt of Nandighosha remains unclear, adding that similar occurrences have been witnessed during previous Rath Yatras as well.
He confirmed that the pulling of all three chariots would resume from 9:30 am on Friday and expressed confidence that they would reach Saradha Bali before the next major ritual.
Adapa Bije Ritual on Saturday
After the successful arrival of the three chariots near the Gundicha Temple, the Adapa Bije ritual is scheduled to be observed on Saturday.
During this important ceremony, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will be ceremonially taken into the Gundicha Temple, where they will stay for several days before returning to the Jagannath Temple during the Bahuda Yatra.
The Adapa Mandap inside the Gundicha Temple holds immense religious significance, and devotees consider it highly auspicious to have darshan of the deities during their stay there.
Massive Crowd Expected
With the chariot pulling resuming today, Puri is witnessing another massive influx of pilgrims. The Grand Road is expected to remain packed throughout the day as devotees gather to participate in one of Hinduism’s most revered festivals.
Police, disaster response teams, volunteers, and temple authorities have been deployed at strategic locations to regulate crowds, assist devotees, and ensure the festival proceeds peacefully and safely.
Authorities have appealed to pilgrims to follow security instructions, maintain discipline, and cooperate with officials for the smooth conduct of the remaining Rath Yatra rituals.
