Pomp and gaiety was witnessed in the Shreemandir here on Thursday during the marriage of Lord Jagannath with Goddess Rukmini amid presence of thousands of invitees and guests.
With chants of Hari Bol and Hulahuli, the well decorated bride and groom entered the marriage pendal near the Kumtimandap of the shrine.
To greet the newlywed couple and enjoy the marriage of the Lord followed by mouth watering feast, about 25,000 pilgrims from across the country were present in the temple.
The feast was so huge that there was no space for a new entrant to sit on the floor. Devotees received Mahaprasad sitting in multiple rows on the yard from evening till late night. The Mahasuars (cooks) prepared 300 pots of rice with double numbers of daal, curry with other dishes. The total cost of the feast is borne by the servitors themselves.
On the occasion of Dwadasi on Friday, the feast would be hosted by temple cooks which would be bigger with participations of more devotees, said sources.
Before the marriage, ‘Rukmini Haran’ festival was observed. Lord Jagannath rescued Rukmini from the
captivity of Sisupal and
married her.