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Bahuda Yatra 2025: Date, time, rituals and meaning of Lord Jagannath's return

Bahuda Yatra 2025: Date, time, rituals and meaning of Lord Jagannath's return

India Todaya day ago
The Ratha Yatra is one of the largest and most cherished festivals in India, bringing hundreds of thousands of devotees to Puri, Odisha each year! After the spectacular procession in which Lord Jagannath and his siblings are carried to the Gundicha Temple, the festival completes its last act with Bahuda Yatra, the "return journey", which in 2025 will occur on July 5. This very sacred festival is not only deeply spiritual, but also a beautiful and cultural spectacle of people witnessing the return of the devotees to their homes after seven remarkably moving days.advertisementBahuda Yatra, which means "return journey" in Odia, celebrates the return of the devotees to the temple. After spending time at the Gundicha Temple (considered to be Lord Jagannath's aunt's birthplace), the three deities will leave Gundicha Temple and return to their home at the Shree Jagannath Temple.The devotees will return to those splendid wooden, beautifully decorated chariots: Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot, Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja chariot, and Goddess Subhadra's Darpadalan Chariot.This journey is not just a ritual but a moment of joy and devotion for thousands who pull the chariots, sing bhajans, and pray together.KEY RITUALS BEFORE AND DURING BAHUDA YATRASeveral special rituals take place before the Bahuda Yatra begins.Dakshina Moda (July 2–3, 2025): The chariots are turned southward to face the Shree Jagannath Temple, symbolising the deities' readiness to return home.Sandhya Darshan (July 4, 2025): Devotees get a special evening glimpse of the deities before their return.Bahuda Yatra (July 5, 2025): The actual return journey, filled with devotional music, chants, and the pulling of the grand chariots by thousands of devotees.For many, Bahuda Yatra is more than a festival it symbolises reunion and balance. The return of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to their main temple is seen as a return to cosmic order, where they resume their divine roles and join Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Jagannath's consort.Devotees believe that pulling the chariots during the Bahuda Yatra brings good fortune and washes away sins. The event becomes a moving expression of faith, hope, and togetherness.Ritual/EventDateHera PanchamiJuly 1, 2025Dakshina ModaJuly 2–3, 2025Sandhya DarshanJuly 4, 2025Bahuda YatraJuly 5, 2025advertisement
For many hundreds of thousands of devotees, the act of pulling the chariots during the Bahuda Yatra is seen as an enormous spiritual benefit. The return trip is also seen as signifying the reaffirmation of divinity, with the servants of God returning to their consort Lakshmi, and the deities resuming their cosmic responsibilities.The celebration is filled with traditional Odder music, slogans, martial arts presentations, and sheer fervour that easily turns the temple city into a sea of devotion.- Ends
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Traffic alerts to be sent during Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha
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New Indian Express

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  • New Indian Express

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Vehicular traffic on Puri stampede day was 4 times the volume of Rath Yatra's opening day
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Time of India

time15 hours ago

  • Time of India

Vehicular traffic on Puri stampede day was 4 times the volume of Rath Yatra's opening day

1 2 Bhubaneswar: A stampede that claimed lives of three devotees outside Gundicha Temple in Puri on June 29 coincided with an unprecedented surge in vehicular traffic, which reached four times the volume witnessed during the Rath Yatra's opening day on June 27, official records reveal. According to police, at least 25,000 vehicles arrived in the holy city on June 29, compared to roughly 6,000 vehicles on June 27. This massive influx created significant traffic snarls and other logistical challenges for the police. Additional director general (ADG) Dayal Gangwar, who oversees Rath Yatra traffic management, said, "Historically, Rath Yatra's first day typically attracts between 5,000 and 6,000 vehicles, while the Suna Besha ceremony usually draws 15,000-20,000 vehicles. However, this year festival's third-day turnout surpassed all previous records, primarily because it fell on a Sunday." The unprecedented vehicle surge severely strained existing infrastructure as parking facilities were designed to accommodate only 6,000 four-wheelers, based on previous years' requirements. "Upon noticing the extraordinary influx of vehicles and crowds, we immediately alerted Puri police, emphasizing the need for crowd management measures," Gangwar said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The New £23 per Month Private Medical Insurance That's Sweeping the UK Private Medical Plans Get Quote Undo "While extensive traffic congestion and funnelling exercise resulted in considerable waiting time for commuters, we managed to prevent any major law and order disruptions," he added. Ahead of the upcoming Bahuda Yatra on July 5 and Suna Besha on July 6, police have implemented comprehensive traffic management strategies, Gangwar said. "We have taken the support from the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissionerate and Khurda district police. A real-time alert system has been established to facilitate immediate communication between these jurisdictions, enabling swift traffic diversion when necessary to prevent flow of vehicles to Puri. Bulk SMSes will also be sent to devotees about traffic arrangements," Gangwar said. According to DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh, "Traffic advisories for Bahuda and Suna Besha events have been issued. We have emphasized the importance of public compliance with the dynamic mobility plans, which are adjusted based on crowd density. We faced significant challenges during the first and third days of Rath Yatra, where unruly and uncooperative motorists refused to follow diversion instructions, resulting in extended traffic delays and inconvenience to others. "

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