Rath Yatra: Lakhs gather in Puri as Bahuda Yatra begins with Pahandi Bije rituals
Bhubaneswar, July 24
Lakhs of devotees thronged the coastal town of Puri in Odisha as the Bahuda Yatra commenced on Friday with the Pahandi Bije rituals of Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Balabhadra, sister Devi Subhadra, and the celestial weapon Chakraraj Sudarshan.
The Bahuda Yatra marks the deities' return journey from the Gundicha Temple back to the Shree Jagannath Temple after their nine-day sojourn.
The holy triad was brought to their respective chariots from Gundicha Temple or Adap Mandap in a grand ceremonial Pahandi Bije procession with the enthralling and divine sound of traditional musical instruments.
The coastal city was reverberating with holy chants of Jay Jagannath and Hari Bol by lakhs of devotees gathered there to witness the divine spectacle. The atmosphere was filled with devotion as priests chanted sacred Vedic hymns; traditional Odissi artists were presenting enthralling dance performances, and devotees, in a state of devotional ecstasy, were dancing and chanting the Lord's holy names.
As per the tradition, after the deities are seated on their respective chariots, the king of Puri, Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb, will carry out the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom, popularly known as the 'Chera Pahanra' ritual, before the pulling of the three chariots from Gundicha Temple to Jagannath Temple by the devotees.
The officials of the temple and district administration are on their toes to ensure the smooth completion of all rituals and avoid repetition of any mishap. The Odisha Police have made extensive security and traffic arrangements to ensure the smooth and hassle-free conduct of Bahuda Yatra, 'Suna Besha' rituals, etc.
Speaking to media persons, Satyajit Naik, Inspector General of Police (Central Range), said 223 police forces have been deployed for crowd control, traffic management, chariot dragging, night guarding, coastal security, etc., on the occasion of Bahuda Yatra.
He also added that the police arrangements have been intensified this time due to the heavy influx of pilgrims during the Bahuda Yatra and 'Suna Besha' rituals.
According to the IGP, around seven lakh devotees are expected to throng Puri for the Bahuda Yatra on Friday, as the holy city is likely to witness a footfall of more than 10 lakh devotees during the 'Suna Besha' ritual on Saturday.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The atmosphere in Puri must be divine! I remember going for Rath Yatra as a child - the chants of Hari Bol, the smell of flowers, and the sheer energy of lakhs of people pulling the chariot. No technology can replicate that feeling.
As someone who's never been to India, I'm amazed by the scale of devotion. Lakhs of people gathering just for one ritual? That's incredible. The cultural richness of India never ceases to astound me.
I wish the administration had better crowd management plans. Every year we hear close calls and stampede risks. 7-10 lakh people is no joke. The police deployment of 223 forces seems insufficient for such a massive gathering. Need better planning.
The Odissi dance performances during the Pahandi Bije must have been breathtaking! This is how we keep our traditional arts alive - by integrating them into living religious practices. So glad to see Lord Jagannath's festival getting coverage.
Interesting how the article mentions 'Jay Jagannath' and 'Hari Bol' - different names for the same divine essence. It's a beautiful reminder of India's unity in diversity. Would love to witness this in person someday!
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