Sea of Humanity on Bahuda Yatra

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Devi Subhardra prepares to depart Gundicha

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Jul 07, 2014 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA —

Drawing the curtain on the nine-day car festival, the Deities of Jagannath Temple on Monday made Their homebound journey on Bahuda Yatra. A punishing sun failed to dampen the festive mood as an ocean of devotees turned up and bid adieu to the Deities at Gundicha Temple. Riding Their colourful chariots, the triad Deities left for their real abode around 2:40 pm to the backdrop of a musical jamboree. Though the three chariots reached Jagannath Temple in the evening, the sibling Deities will enter the sanctum sanctor

Lord Jagannath pahandi from Gundica

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

A wave of spiritualism swayed across the temple town when the idols of the reigning Deities were brought out of Gundicha Temple amid a pompous ceremony, called pahandi. Rhythmic beats of cymbals and gongs and mellifluous sound of conches added music to the euphoric ambience around Gundicha Temple. While Odissi and Gotipua dancers serenaded to the tune of pulsating music in front of the chariots, martial artists performed banati, a traditional sport, in front of the Deities.

"The blazing sun did not pain me when I managed to catch glimpse of the Deities aboard the chariots," said Truptimayee Samal, 52, a devotee from Sambalpur.

Lord Jagannath pahandi

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

"Like Rath Yatra, we succeeded in starting and completing the rituals in scheduled time. Servitors cooperated with us in solemnizing the rituals," temple's Chief Administrator Arvind Padhee said. "We also successfully managed to prevent pilgrims from climbing the chariots, as done on June 29," Padhee said.

Devi Subhadra pahandi

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

The Deities traversed the 3-km Grand Road towards Jagannath Temple soon after Puri scion Gajapati Dibyasigha Deb performed his hereditary chhera pahanra (sweeping of chariot floors) practice on the chariots.

The Return Ratha

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

The state government heaved a sigh of relief as the Bahuda Yatra of Their Lordships passed off peacefully against the backdrop of the Shankaracarya drama and a terror alert sounded in the wake of the recent visit of two Indian Mujahideen operatives to Puri. "Like Rath Yatra we made adequate security arrangements on Monday. No untoward incident was reported," DGP Sanjeev Marik said.

The Lordships' Chariots

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Lord Jagannath returns to His Puri Abode

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]