Puri, July 16: The stage is set for the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath as the Holy Trinity—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra—will be ceremoniously escorted out of the Shree Jagannath Temple and seated on their respective chariots on Friday before embarking on the annual journey to the Gundicha Temple.

The grand festival marks the fulfilment of the symbolic promise made by Lord Jagannath to His devotees during last year's Niladri Bije to meet them again at the next Rath Yatra. Lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad have gathered in Puri to witness the sacred procession, with the Bada Danda wearing a festive look amid continuous chanting of bhajans and kirtans.

The three chariots—Nandighosha, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana—are stationed near the Singhadwara, awaiting the arrival of the deities. The annual journey to the Gundicha Temple, also known as the birthplace of Lord Jagannath, is regarded as one of the most significant events in the Hindu religious calendar.

Despite intermittent rainfall over the past few days, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), district administration and servitors have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Special emphasis has been laid on maintaining ritual schedules, crowd management, security and facilitating hassle-free darshan for devotees.

According to the ritual schedule, the Pahandi procession of the deities will begin at 9:30 am, during which the sibling deities will be ceremoniously carried from the sanctum sanctorum to their respective chariots.

The ceremonial ‘Chhera Pahanra’, during which the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri sweeps the chariots with a golden broom, is scheduled between ‘2 pm and 3 pm’. Following the completion of rituals, the pulling of the three chariots is slated to commence at ‘4 pm’, with lakhs of devotees expected to participate in the sacred procession along the Grand Road.

The day's rituals will begin with ‘Mangala Alati at 6 am’, followed by Mailam, Tadapa Lagi, Rosha Homa, Abakasha, Surya Puja, Dwarapala Puja, Gopal Ballav and Sakala Dhupa rituals. The chariot consecration (Ratha Pratistha) is scheduled for ‘9 am’, followed by Mangalarpana at ‘9:15 am’. The Pahandi procession is expected to conclude by 12:30 pm, while Madanmohan and Ramakrishna will be placed on the chariots by 1 pm. Chita Lagi and Besha rituals will be completed before the Gajapati Maharaja performs the Chhera Pahanra.

After the ceremonial fixing of the Charamala, horses and charioteers between 3 pm and 4 pm, the three chariots will roll down the Bada Danda towards the Gundicha Temple amid chants of "Jai Jagannath" and the participation of an ocean of devotees, marking the beginning of the nine-day sojourn of the sibling deities.