Over two lakh devotees marched in a procession along the Badadanda (Grand Road) here with the Daru Sagadi of lord Balabhadra towards the Shree Jagannath Temple on Tuesday morning. The road reverberated with Hulahuli, ‘Jai Jagannath’ and chanting of Vedic hymns. The massive presence of devotees gave an impression of observance of a mini Rath Yatra. Several Sankirtan teams, religious flag-bearers along with musicians playing trumpets, cymbals and blowing of conch were leading the Daru procession.
The Sagadi (a four-wheel wooden cart drawn by servitors) carrying the Daru wrapped with seven layers of Pata (silk) tied with Pattabasunga (a special type of rope) had begun its journey from the Jhankada Sarala Temple, near where the holy neem tree was located. Hundreds of devotees had pulled the Sagadi during its 160-km journey to Puri alongside the Daiatapatis since April 30.
After the Sagadi reached the North Gate of the Shree Jagannath Temple, it was escorted to the Koilibaikuntha in the temple premises and placed in the Darugruha alongside the already-brought Sudarshan Daru. The Darugruha is a special enclosure for construction of four new idols for Nabakalebar. Construction of the new images of the deities will begin after arrival of the remaining two Darus of Devi Subhdra and lord Jagannath in the enclosure.