Lord Jagannath's Bahuda Yatra: Chariots reach Lion's Gate amid devotional fervour

THE sacred Bahuda Yatra — the return journey of the annual Rath Yatra witnessed a grand culmination on Saturday evening as the towering chariots of the Holy Trinity reached the Lion’s Gate (Singhadwara) of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

Leading the procession, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot was the first to arrive at the temple gate, followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan and finally, Lord Jagannath’s majestic Nandighosh chariot, drawing cheers and chants of “Jai Jagannath” and “Haribol” from the sea of devotees.

A highlight of the return journey was the offering of Poda Pitha, a traditional baked delicacy, to the deities on their respective chariots near the Mausi Maa Temple — a ritual steeped in deep cultural and religious significance.

The Bahuda Yatra began earlier in the afternoon after the ceremonial Pahandi — the traditional procession in which the sibling deities were carried from the Gundicha Temple to their respective chariots.

Before the Pahandi, a number of customary rituals like 'Mangla Arati’ and "Mailam' were held before the presiding deities came out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.