This is why we celebrate ‘Hera Panchami’

Hera Panchami, the festival which is associated with famous Car festival of Puri. ‘Hera’ means to ‘see’ and ‘Panchami’ means the ‘fifth day’. This festival is celebrated at Gundicha temple on the fifth day from the start date of the Car festival. This festival is dedicated to Goddess Mahalaxmi. The temple of Lord Jagannath is known as Srimandira. “Sri” means Laxmi, so the name of the temple as “Srimandira” signifies the fact that Goddess Mahalaxmi is the principal Goddess of the Grand Temple. This ritual highlights the separation of Mahalaxmi from Lord Jagannath. On Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath leaves the Jagannath Temple and goes to Gundicha Temple for nine days with his siblings and his wife Mahalaxmi is left behind in the main temple. The popular belief is that Lord Jagannath had promised his wife Goddess Mahalaxmi that he will return the next day. But Lord Jagannath does not return the next day. Goddess Mahalaxmi waits and fifth days have been passed but Lord Jagannath did not return to the temple. wp:gallery {"ids":[123908],"linkTo":"none"} /wp:gallery Goddess Mahalaxmi after waiting for five days becomes impatient and worried. At last, she makes up her mind to meet Lord Jagannath in Gundicha Temple. The representative idol of Goddess Mahalaxmi known as Subarna Mahalaxmi went to Gundicha temple in a beautifully decorated palanquin via Bada Danda in a colorful procession in pomp and splendor to meet Lord Jagannath. The people & servitors who are part of the procession of Goddess Mahalaxmi sing the Hera Panchami song. The Hera Panchami song expresses Goddess Mahalaxmi's anger towards her husband. After knowing that Goddess Mahalaxmi is coming to meet him with anger, Lord Jagannath asks his servitors to quickly lock the door of Gundicha Temple. Mahalaxmi became very angry due to this activity Meanwhile, Mahalaxmi feel insulted and to teach her husband a lesson she asks her servitors to break a part of Nandighosa Ratha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath. On her return she avoids the direct route via Grand Road, and secretly returned to the Jagannath temple via Hera Gohiri Sahi of Puri. The unique ritual is enjoyed by large number of devotees of Lord Jagannath.