Puri, July 22: The sacred stay of Lord Jagannath at the Adapa Mandapa of the Gundicha Temple is nearing its end, with preparations now in full swing for the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey to the Shree Jagannath Temple, scheduled for July 24.

As part of the customary rituals, the Dakshini Moda, or southward turning of the three chariots, has begun. Following the offering of the Agyanmala by the temple priests, Devi Subhadra's Darpadalana chariot was successfully turned south and positioned in front of the Nakachana Gate of the Gundicha Temple.

However, the turning of Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja chariot had to be suspended after heavy rain lashed Puri, leaving large portions of the Saradhabali area waterlogged. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration postponed the ritual due to the adverse weather conditions.

The Dakshini Moda of the Taladhwaja chariot is expected to be completed today, after which Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot will be pulled towards the Saradhabali area as preparations for the return procession continue.

Security arrangements have also been intensified, with all three chariots placed under a strict security cordon and protected by extensive barricading. Officials will conduct a detailed inspection of the chariots once the southward turning of all three has been completed, ahead of the grand Bahuda Yatra.