[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

During car festival, Gundicha Temple, which often remains empty, transformed into Jagannath Temple. In line with Jagannath Temple's rituals, around 25 types of rituals were performed daily at Gundicha shrine. Pilgrims get Mahaprasad of the Deities here instead of Jagannath Temple.

Though there will be no deity for worship at Gundicha Temple, there is no restriction on the entry of pilgrims into the shrine. In a normal day, only around 200 devotees visit Gundicha Temple and move around the shrine. The temple has been constructed within a garden and is known as God's 'garden home'. Coconut, mango, neem, bael trees and other varieties of plants like Tulasi, rose and jasmine have been planted in the temple. The entire complex of the temple, including the garden is surrounded by a wall of 430 ft. length, 320 ft. breadth with 20 ft. height.

Rath Carts set to leave Gundicha
[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

"There are many interesting legends behind the Gundicha Temple. Gundicha, queen of king Indradyumna, was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. Impressed by her (Gundicha's) deep devotion, Lord Jagannath promised her to come to her house during Ratha Yatra.

On the other hand, despite the absence of the Deities in Jagannath Temple, devotees in large numbers still thronged the shrine after June 25 car festival. "Unlike other days, the inflow of visitors to the Jagannath Temple might have seen a slide, yet many pilgrims continued to visit the temple despite the absence of the Deities," said Laxmidhar Pujapanda, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the temple.

Panorama – Cars in front of Gundicha
[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

After catching a glimpse of the Deities at Gundicha Temple, pilgrims flocked to Jagannath Temple to worship the sanctum sanctorum and other smaller shrines on its premises.