Puri, July 5: After a nine-day divine retreat at the Gundicha Temple, the Holy Trinity-Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath-are set to return to their original abode, the Srimandir, today in the auspicious ritual known as Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the annual Rath Yatra.
Derived from the Odia word ‘Bahuda’, meaning return, this sacred procession marks the journey back of the deities from their maternal aunt’s abode. A heavy security blanket has been deployed across Puri to ensure smooth conduct of the rituals and manage the surge of devotees.
The Bahuda Yatra mirrors the outward Rath Yatra, but in reverse. The three colossal chariots-Taladhwaj of Lord Balabhadra, Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra, and Nandighosh of Lord Jagannath-have already taken the symbolic ‘Dakhina Moda’ (southern turn) and are positioned near Nakachana Dwara, the exit gate of the Gundicha Temple.
As part of tradition, the deities will briefly halt at Mausima Temple (Ardhasani Temple), dedicated to Lord Jagannath’s maternal aunt, where they will be offered the traditional delicacy ‘Poda Pitha’-a baked sweet dish made with rice, jaggery, coconut, and lentils.
The day began early with a sequence of rituals including Mangal Aarti at around 4:00 a.m., followed by Tadap Lagi, Rosa Homa, and Abakash, culminating in the worship of Surya Dev. Priests also performed Dwarpala Puja, paying homage to the divine gatekeepers, followed by Gopal Ballav and Sakala Dhupa, and the essential Senapatalagi ritual, which prepares the deities for travel.
The ceremonial Pahandi procession is expected to commence around noon and conclude by 2:30 p.m. Following this, the Gajapati King Dibyasingh Dev will perform the revered Chhera Pahanra—the symbolic sweeping of the chariot floors with a golden broom, signifying humility and equality.
Once the wooden horses are affixed to the chariots, devotees will be allowed to pull them from 4:00 p.m. onwards. As per tradition, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaj will move first, followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan, and finally, Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh.
Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Aravind Padhi stressed the importance of maintaining the timeline for each ritual to ensure the sanctity and discipline of the yatra.
The Bahuda Yatra will be succeeded by a series of significant rituals:
- Suna Besha on 6th July, when the deities will appear in golden attire atop their chariots.
- Adharpana on 7th July, a ritual offering to appease the guardian spirits.
- Niladri Bije on 8th July, when the deities ceremoniously re-enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Srimandir, marking the conclusion of the grand festival.
With rhythmic chants of "Hari Bol" and a sea of saffron and white enveloping the Grand Road, Puri once again becomes the epicentre of spiritual ecstasy and deep-rooted tradition.
