Puri, July 15: Amid chants of Jai Jagannath, the pulling of chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra began at around 4 pm in Odisha’s Puri today.
Lakhs of devotees, who thronged the pilgrim city to witness the grand Bahuda Yatra of the holy Trinity, first pulled the chariot of Lord Balabhadra – ‘Taladhwaja’ towards Singha Dwara along with the servitors and police personnel.
As per the tradition, Devi Subhadra’s ‘Darpadalana’ and Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nandighosa’ follow Lord Balabhadra’s ‘Taladhwaja’.
The pulling of chariots began soon after Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb performed the ‘Chhera Panhara’ rituals on the chariots. Before this, idols of the holy trinity were placed on their respective chariots, following the spectacular Pahandi rituals. The Dhadi Pahandi ritual commenced with the servitors escorting Lord Sudarsan to Debadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra.
