Rath Yatra Festival Kicks Off in Puri with Grand Rituals
Celebration of Rath Yatra in Puri
Photo: IANS
Bhubaneswar, July 16: The renowned Rath Yatra festival commenced in the sacred coastal town of Puri, Odisha, on Thursday, marked by the initiation of the Pahandi Bije ritual for Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, occurring ahead of schedule.
During the Pahandi Bije ceremony, the divine siblings, along with other deities, were ceremoniously escorted from the historic Shree Jagannath Temple to their ornately decorated chariots, accompanied by the captivating sounds of traditional musical instruments such as the ghanta (gong), kahali (trumpet), and telingi baja.
Priests recited sacred Vedic hymns while traditional Odissi dancers performed to welcome the deities on their nine-day journey to the Gundicha Temple, which is revered as their birthplace.
In accordance with tradition, the celestial weapon of Lord Krishna, Chakraraj Sudarshan, is first placed on Goddess Subhadra's chariot, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and finally Lord Jagannath in a synchronized procession known as ‘Dhadi Pahandi’.
Once the Pahandi ritual concluded, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, along with his followers, performed puja for the deities on their chariots. Subsequently, Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb, the chief servitor of Lord Jagannath, offered prayers and conducted the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom.
After the king's service, the chariots were pulled by devotees towards the Gundicha Temple, located approximately 3 km from the main temple, which is considered the birthplace and garden house of Lord Jagannath.
On Thursday, thousands of devotees flocked to Puri to witness Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, as they pulled the chariots Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana. Filled with devotion, the crowd chanted ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Hari Bol’, dancing joyfully.
The annual chariot festival is celebrated on Dwitiya Tithi, the second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar, a period deemed spiritually significant due to the moon's increasing brightness.
The local administration, police, and various departments have implemented extensive measures to ensure the smooth execution of this year's Rath Yatra. Over 13,000 police personnel, along with a sufficient number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed for security during the festival.
Additionally, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy will remain vigilant to prevent any illegal activities along the coastal route. Nineteen senior IPS officers have also been assigned to oversee the overall security arrangements.