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Puri, Odisha : The sacred city of Puri is resonating with chants of “Jai Jagannath” as lakhs of devotees throng the Grand Road for the Bahuda Yatra, the revered return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Gundicha Temple to the Srimandir after their week-long stay at their aunt’s abode.
The magnificent chariots—Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra—begin their homeward procession along the Badadanda, pulled by thousands of devotees in an atmosphere filled with devotion and spiritual fervour.
Ahead of the journey, the traditional Dakshina Moda ritual was performed, during which the chariots were turned towards the Jagannath Temple. The day commenced with sacred rituals inside the Gundicha Temple, followed by the ceremonial Pahandi procession, as the deities were escorted to their respective chariots.
During the return journey, the divine siblings make a customary halt at the Mausi Maa Temple, where they are offered the traditional Poda Pitha, a cherished ritual of Bahuda Yatra, before continuing towards the Srimandir.To ensure the festival proceeds peacefully, an extensive security arrangement has been made with thousands of Odisha Police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces deployed across Puri for crowd management and public safety.
