Bhubaneswar, July 27: The grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra came to a ceremonial conclusion on Monday with the observance of the sacred Niladri Bije ritual, marking the return of the sibling deities to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri after their 12-day sojourn outside the sanctum.

Niladri Bije, one of the most significant rituals associated with the world-famous Rath Yatra, signifies the home coming of the deities to the Srimandir and formally brings the centuries-old festival to an end. The ritual is witnessed by thousands of devotees who gather to witness the final phase of the annual chariot festival.

The Rath Yatra began on July 16 when Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath emerged from the sanctum in the traditional Pahandi procession and ascended their respective chariots. The deities then embarked on their ceremonial journey to the Shree Gundicha Temple, regarded as their birthplace and located about 3 kilometres from the main temple.

After staying at the Gundicha Temple for several days, the deities returned to the Singhadwara during the Bahuda Yatra, or return car festival, held on July 24. Since then, the idols remained seated on their respective chariots stationed in front of the temple, awaiting the final rituals before re-entering the shrine.

On Monday, temple servitors carried the deities from their chariots to the sanctum sanctorum in a grand ceremonial procession conducted in accordance with age-old traditions. The idols of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were taken inside one after another amid the chanting of Vedic hymns, the blowing of conch shells, and the beating of traditional musical instruments. They were then placed on the sacred Ratna Singhasan (bejewelled throne) inside the temple.

The Niladri Bije ritual not only symbolises the completion of the annual Rath Yatra but also reflects the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Odisha. With the deities returning to their abode, the curtain comes down on one of India's largest and most revered religious festivals, which attracts millions of devotees and visitors from across the country and abroad every year.