Return Car Festival, All three Chariots reach Lions Gate

Puri, July 9: Hundreds of devotees pulled the ropes as the return car festival or Bahuda yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings took place amid a cloudy sky and high humidity in this temple town of Odisha on Saturday. The Bahuda Yatra schedule was advanced by about two hours as the journey to Gundicha temple by the deities last Saturday had been pre poned by about three hours last Saturday. The priests performed a set of rituals and nitees like the “Mangal arati, mailum, roshoma, surya puja, dwarpalpuja” and offered Gopalbhog before Pahandi began by 7.55 AM and was completed by 11.25 AM. Devotees did not have to wait long as the servitors conducted the deities in “Dhadi Pahandi”(one after another) to their respective c h a r i o ts w i t h L o r d Balabhadra taken first followed by Devi Subhadra and finally lord Jagannath. Odissi dancers and a music All three Chariots reach Lions Gate Return Car Festival concert party comprising cymbal, conch, bugle Drum, clarionet, flute and mridangam players led the procession. As soon as lord Jagannath came out of Nakachana dwar (exit gate of Gundicha temple) swinging his floral tiara Haribol, cries of Jai Jagannath and huluhuli filled the air. Devotees were seen pushing and jostling to get close to the inner cordon to have a glimpse of the Lord Jagannath. The Pahandi procession was completed by 12.25PM and and about 12.30 PM Gajapati Dibyasingh Dev came to Gundicha temple riding his “Tanzaan” from his palace and performed. After the servitors fixed wooden horses to chariots, devotees pulled the chariots with Taladhwaj of lord Balabhadra first at 1.40 PM followed by Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath in his Nandighosh rath came in the end. All three chariots reached in front of Simhadwar of the main temple before sunset. This is a rare occasion where the three chariots reached their destination before time in Bahuda yatra. The devotees in large numbers participated in pulling of the chariots along the three-km long Grand Road popularly known as “Badadanda” to the lions gate in front of the 12th century temple. All the three
chariots moved smoothly on their given tracks along the Grand Road and reached their destination. The Taladhwaj ratha reached Simhadwar at 4.20 PM and Darpadalan chariot by 4.50 PM while lord Jagannath had to wait midway near the Mausima temple to taste the Poda Pitha (a special cake baked by the lords aunt). Thereafter Nandighosh rath stayed near the Gajapati’s palace for the performance of “Laxminarayan bhet” ritual which was conducted by the Gajapati. As per tradition, Mahalaxmi was peeved over being left out on the pleasure ride to their aunt’s house while Jagannath took his sister Subhadra along with Balabhadra. Gajpati King Dibyasingh Dev the foremost servitor of the deities conducted Mahalaxmi from the temple gate in a procession close to the Nandighosh, where Mahajan servitors p e r f o r m e d t h e reconciliation proceedings between Mahalaxmi and Jagannath. It took about one hour. The devotees then pulled the Nandighosh chariot to the lions gate, the final destination before 7 PM. The fire tender team has a tough time sprinkling water on devotees to cool their body temperature. Devotees participating in pulling were feeling uncomfortable because of the heat and humidity. E l a b o r a t e s e c u ri t y arrangements were made for the safe and smooth conduct of the fete. No untoward incident was reported so far.