Puri, July 24: After a gap of 12 days, the Pahuda ritual of Lord Jagannath and the Chaturdha Vigrahas was finally performed at the Gundicha Temple on Wednesday, bringing relief among servitors and devotees.

The last Pahuda ritual was conducted on the 9th, after which the ceremonial resting of the deities could not be carried out for 12 consecutive days. On Wednesday, October 22, the ritual was successfully completed at the Gundicha Temple, allowing the deities to rest at the Adapa Mandap for a day during their stay there.

Temple authorities and servitors had made early arrangements to ensure that the day’s rituals were completed on time. The Badasinghara Besha and final offerings were completed by 1:15 AM, following which the Pahuda ritual was performed at around 1:30 AM.

The prolonged delay in conducting the Pahuda ritual had raised concerns among servitors, who questioned the disruption of a significant daily ritual of the Lord. Observers pointed out that, according to the traditional belief of “Yatha Dehe Tatha Deve” — that divine rituals follow the practices of human life — the Lord too requires regular periods of rest.

The successful completion of the ritual, even for a single day, has brought a sense of satisfaction and relief among devotees and the public.