On the ninth day of their sojourn to their aunt's house, Gundicha temple, the lords returned to the lion's Gate (Singhadwar) of their temple in the same manner and style on Monday evening in which they had left the shrine on June 29.
Over eight lakh devotees participated in this Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival) of Shree Jagannath, Shree Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra along the Grand Road here.
The devotees had been waiting for hours since morning at the Saradhabali exit gate of the Gundicha temple, Nakchanadwar, to witness the ceremonial Pahandi of the holy triads. As the deities came out in the Pahandi procession with musical concert of drums, cymbals and bugles and with dancing Gotipuas, sounds of Jai Jagannath, Haribol and Hulalhuli rent the air.
lord Jagannath came galloping to his Rath, Nandighosh, with giant tiara swinging in a majestic way. The Pahandi was advanced by about an hour before the scheduled time. Early morning, the Daita servitors had observed the Surya Puja, Mangal Aarati, Mailam and Abakash rituals and the Khichidi Bhog was offered to the deities before the Pahandi.
Since two Tithis were eclipsed as per the temple almanac, the gorgeous Sunavesh ritual has been preponed to Tuesday, the Ekadasi Tithi. So, all concerned with the rituals, including the servitors, were geared up for the occasion to meet the deadline so that the deities reached the main temple Monday to facilitate Sunavesh on Tuesday.
The Pahandi, which began by 10.30 am, was completed by 1 pm. The Chherapahanra by the Gajapati Dibyasingh Dev was completed by 2.25 pm. The first Rath, Taladhwaj, of lord Balabhadra rolled out by 2.57 pm, followed by Darpdalan of Devi Subhadra at 3.25 pm and lord Jagannath came in his Nandighosh in the end at about 3.38 pm. The devotees pulled the Raths along the 3-km Badadanda.
The Nandighosh reached the main temple at about 7. 25 pm. On the way, the lords tasted Podapitha baked by their Mausimaa (maternal aunt) and then, the Gajapati near his palace conducted the 'lakshminarayan Vet' before the Raths were veered to their final parking lot. As many as 104 platoons of armed police, 1,000 officers of various ranks, two companies of RAF, several troops of IRB besides bomb detection and disposal units were deployed to ensure safety of the deities and the pilgrims.