Bhubaneswar, July 25: The sacred Bahuda Yatra (return journey) of Lord Jagannath was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm by devotees thousands of kilometres away from Odisha, in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Members of the Odia diaspora, along with devotees from various Indian communities, participated in the religious celebration.

The procession was organised at the Shri Jagannath Temple located inside the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre in Florey, Canberra. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra were placed on a beautifully decorated chariot, which was pulled for nearly 3 kilometres by hundreds of devotees. The atmosphere turned spiritual as devotees chanted “Jai Jagannath” during the procession.

After the chariot reached the temple, the deities were offered Chhapan Bhog, consisting of 56 varieties of food offerings. The celebrations continued with devotional songs, kirtans, and aarti rituals. Expressing his gratitude, Tarun Agasti, founding vice-president of the Canberra Hindu Temple, thanked all temple members and volunteers for their dedicated efforts in making the event a success.

The celebrations will continue with the Suna Besha (golden attire ceremony) of Lord Jagannath at the Canberra Jagannath Temple, which has generated immense enthusiasm among devotees from the Odia community living abroad.

Meanwhile, the Bahuda Yatra was also celebrated with grandeur in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar area, where thousands of devotees gathered for the chariot-pulling ceremony. Odia and non-Odia devotees joined together and pulled the chariot while chanting “Jai Jagannath.”

The procession was conducted smoothly with the support of the police and Mumbai administration, which made arrangements including the closure of major roads along the route. The chariot has reached and been placed at the Gundicha Temple.

Following the Suna Besha ceremony today, preparations are underway to bring Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra back to the Ratna Bedi (jeweled altar) at the main temple.