Puri, Jul 24: The sacred Pahandi rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra concluded on Friday, marking the ceremonial beginning of the Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the Holy Trinity from the Gundicha Temple to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple.

Amid the resonant chants of "Jai Jagannath," "Haribol," and "Hulahuli," thousands of devotees witnessed the deities being carried out of the Gundicha Temple in the traditional Pahandi procession. The Grand Road echoed with the sounds of conch shells, cymbals and gongs as devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the sacred ritual.

The Pahandi ceremony commenced with the procession of Lord Sudarshan, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath. In keeping with centuries-old traditions, servitors ceremonially carried the deities and placed them on their respective chariots—Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra, Darpadalana for Devi Subhadra, and Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath.

The chariot-pulling ceremony will begin after the revered 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual, during which Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deva will ceremonially sweep the chariots with a golden broom, symbolising humility before the Lord.

The Bahuda Yatra marks the return of the sibling deities to the Shree Jagannath Temple after their week-long stay at the Gundicha Temple. The return journey is one of the most significant events of the Rath Yatra festival, attracting lakhs of devotees from Odisha and across the country.

As per tradition, Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot will halt at the Mausi Maa Temple, where the deity will be offered the traditional Poda Pitha, a cherished ritual associated with the Bahuda Yatra.

With the completion of the Pahandi rituals, the holy town of Puri came alive with devotion and spiritual fervour as devotees eagerly awaited the pulling of the three majestic chariots towards the Shree Jagannath Temple.