Puri, Jul 1: The much-awaited Hera Panchami festival, a key ritual of the Rath Yatra, will take place today in Puri, marking an important and unique moment in the grand procession. This special event revolves around Goddess Laxmi's divine display of anger, where she symbolically damages the Nandighosh, Lord Jagannath’s chariot, after being left behind during the annual Rath Yatra.
Taking place on the fifth day of the Rath Yatra, Hera Panchami honors the moment when Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra, make their journey to the Gundicha Temple in their respective chariots. Goddess Laxmi, Lord Jagannath’s wife, however, stays behind in the Jagannath Temple. Traditionally, Lord Jagannath promises to return the following day, but as the days pass, his promise remains unfulfilled.
After waiting anxiously for five days, a frustrated Goddess Laxmi decides to make her way to the Gundicha Temple to confront her husband.
In a grand procession, the idol of Goddess Laxmi, known as Subarna Mahalakshmi, is carried in a beautifully decorated palanquin by servitors through Puri’s famous Bada Danda. Devotees sing hymns expressing her longing and righteous anger.
Upon learning of her approach, Lord Jagannath’s servitors lock the gates of the Gundicha Temple, intensifying the Goddess's wrath. In response, she commands her servitors to break a part of the Nandighosh chariot as an act of divine reproof. However, after causing the damage, Goddess Laxmi feels a sense of guilt and returns quietly to the Jagannath Temple through a secret route, known as Heragouri Sahi, without any procession.
This ritual, deeply revered by devotees, symbolizes Goddess Laxmi’s emotional separation from her husband and her fierce determination to remind him of his promise. The festival, which takes place on the fifth day of the Rath Yatra, adds a unique spiritual layer to the celebration and is a highlight for thousands of pilgrims who gather each year in Puri.
Hera Panchami adds to the cultural and devotional significance of the Rath Yatra, offering a rare glimpse into the divine drama of Lord Jagannath, his consort, and the annual journey that captivates the hearts of millions.
