Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda' Yatra: Chariot pulling begins
Bahuda Yatra
, or return car festival, of Lord Jagannath and his siblings formally commenced on Saturday in Puri, with devotees pulling the chariot of Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaj amid prayers, rituals, and heightened security following a recent stampede.
Early chariot procession and devotional fervour
Though scheduled for 4 p.m., the chariot procession began around 2:45 p.m. with chants of 'Jai Jagannath' and 'Haribol' and the rhythmic beating of cymbals. The chariots Taladwaj (for Lord Balabhadra), Darpadalan (for Devi Subhadra), and Nandighosh (for Lord Jagannath) were pulled in sequence, beginning with Taladwaj, followed by the chariots carrying Devi Subhadra and then Lord Jagannath.
Pahandi ritual carried out ahead of schedule
The Pahandi ceremony, which involves ceremonially carrying the deities to their chariots, began at 10 a.m.—two hours ahead of schedule. Initiated by Chakraraj Sudarshan, the ritual took about two hours to complete, during which the deities Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Jagannath were placed on their respective chariots. This was followed by customary Mangla Arati and Mailam rituals before the deities emerged from the sanctum sanctorum.
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Chhera Pahanra ritual performed by Gajapati Maharaja
At 1:35 p.m.,
Gajapati Maharaja
Divyasingha Deb performed the Chhera Pahanra (sweeping) ritual with a golden broom, first cleansing the Taladwaj chariot of Lord Balabhadra, then the Nandighosh chariot of Lord Jagannath, and finally the Darpadalan chariot of Devi Subhadra.
Security measures in place
The festival unfolded under unprecedented security following a stampede near Gundicha Temple on June 29 that claimed three lives and injured around 50. Approximately 10,000 personnel—including 6,150 from Odisha Police and 800 from central armed forces—are deployed. More than 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, drones, and additional surveillance tools have been installed to monitor the crowd. Odisha DGP YB Khurania and senior administrative officers are stationed in Puri to oversee safety and traffic control.
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Current CM and former CM extend greetings
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conveyed his blessings, saying, 'By the grace of the Lord, everyone's life be filled with happiness, peace, and prosperity.' Leader of
Opposition Naveen Patnaik
also extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion.
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