Puri, July 21: The sacred Hera Panchami ritual was observed with great religious fervour and devotion in Puri on Monday. As part of the centuries-old tradition, Goddess Mahalakshmi ceremonially visited the Gundicha Temple to seek an audience with Lord Jagannath, who is currently residing at the Adapa Mandapa during the annual Rath Yatra festivities.

According to temple traditions, Lord Jagannath and Goddess Mahalakshmi were ceremonially married on Rukmini Harana Ekadashi. However, before the ceremonial wedding knot could be untied, the Lord fell ill and remained in seclusion for treatment during the Anasara period. After recovering, Lord Jagannath, accompanied by Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, embarked on the annual journey to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be his birthplace.

As part of the Hera Panchami ritual, Goddess Mahalakshmi, acting on the advice of Goddess Bimala, departed from the Jagannath Temple in a richly decorated palanquin carrying the sacred Mohini Churna. The ceremonial procession featured traditional temple instruments, including bells, umbrellas, and trumpets, and halted at several locations along the Grand Road for the offering of Panti Bhoga.

Upon reaching Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot, temple servitors performed a series of traditional rituals, including Karpura Bandapana, Balita Bandapana, Chaula Bandapana, and Bidiya Manohi. Goddess Mahalakshmi then proceeded to the Jagamohan of the Gundicha Temple, where she received the sacred Adharamala, a garland sanctified by Lord Jagannath.

As the evening Sandhya Dhupa ritual had already commenced, the Goddess did not have direct darshan of the Lord. After completing the Dahi Pati Manohi ritual, she returned to the Jagannath Temple through the Nakachana Gate via Heragohiri Sahi.

Temple officials said preparations for the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the deities to the Jagannath Temple, will begin after the completion of the Sakala Dhupa ritual. Following the arrival of Lord Jagannath's Agyanmala, the three chariots will be ceremonially turned southward (Dakshina Moda), marking the next significant phase of the Rath Yatra.