The lords here after spending a week in the Gundicha temple, came in a return journey to the main temple, called the Bahuda Yatra.
The festival schedule was advanced by over an hour. On Sunday, the temple administration had stopped the Sandhya Darshan, a prime ritual, by 7 pm to ensure timely observance of Monday’s schedule.
The Pahandi procession was led by a concert of Ghantuas, cymbalists, trumpeters and bugle players, which enthralled the devotees. The Goti Pua and Odishi artists also joined the Pahandi procession and energised the arena with devotional songs and dances.
The Pahandi began by 9.40 am and was completed by 12.10 pm.Chherapahanra by Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb was completed by 2 pm.
Devotees pulled the Raths along the pre-fixed tracks along the three-km-long Badadanda to the main temple front parking area.
On their way to home, the lords tasted Podapitha baked by their maternal aunt Mausima.
lord Balabhadra in his Taladhwaj chariot reached at the Simhadwar at about 5 pm, and 20 minutes later, did reach Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan chariot. lord Jagannath in the Nandighosh chariot stopped near the palace of the Gajapati king where the ceremonial ‘laxmi Narayan Veta’ was held. It is an occasion, when Mahalaxmi and lord Jagannath meet.
The ritual is observed before the lord arrives at the Simhadwar. And this was completed by 7 pm under flood lights.
Plainclothes police detained a number of miscreants from the Badadanda during the fete for chain snatching and pick pocketing. In a rare case, some ladies lodged complaint with the police that they were molested by some youths during the Pahandi of the deities in the Gundicha temple. The Kumbharpada police registered a criminal case and detained three youths in this connection and an investigation was on, police sources said.
The Sunavesh of the deities would be observed atop chariots on Tuesday while on Wednesday, the Adharpana would be offered and on Thursday, the deities would enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple in a Pahandi procession.