By The Sampadak Express
The grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced today with the auspicious ‘Pahandi’ ritual at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. The divine procession saw the sibling deities Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath ceremoniously brought out of the sanctum sanctorum and placed onto their respective chariots in front of the temple’s iconic Lion’s Gate (Singha Dwar).
Although originally scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM, the Pahandi started with a one-hour delay and is expected to continue for around three hours.
Pahandi: The Majestic Procession
The ritual began with the ceremonial escort of Chakraraj Sudarshan, the divine weapon of Lord Vishnu, who was first carried to Darpadalan, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. According to temple scholar Pandit Suryanarayan Rathsharma, this marks the spiritual beginning of the Yatra.
Next, Lord Balabhadra was carried with grandeur to his Taladhwaja chariot. Goddess Subhadra, in a sacred and unique tradition known as ‘Sunya Pahandi’, was then brought out while gazing skyward, symbolizing divine detachment.
Finally, as Lord Jagannath, lovingly called ‘Kalia Thakura’, emerged from the 12th-century shrine, chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ echoed along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), as devotees raised their hands in devotion. The emotional moment was enriched by performances from Odissi dancers, folk artists, and musicians from across Odisha.“
My life will be fulfilled if the Lord graces me with a glance,” said Maitree Maheswari, an Odissi dancer performing during the procession.
Tradition & Rituals
The Rath Yatra, observed annually on the second day of the bright fortnight of the Odia month Ashadha, is the only time the deities descend from their sacred throne, the Ratna Sinhasana, and traverse the 22 sacred steps (Baisi Pahacha) through the Lion’s Gate to journey to Shree Gundicha Temple, 2.6 km away.
Preceding the Pahandi were early morning rituals like Mangala Arati and Mailam, preparing the deities for their public appearance.
Chariots Ready, City on Alert
The three towering chariots Taladhwaja, Darpadalan, and Nandighosha now stand majestically facing east, ready to begin their journey to Gundicha Temple.
As per the schedule:
Chherapahanra (ceremonial sweeping of the chariots) will be performed at 3:30 PM by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb
Rath pulling is set to begin at 4:00 PM
Security Tightened for Massive Gathering
Over 10,000 security personnel including Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Forces, and NSG have been deployed for smooth conduct of the Yatra. The area is under constant surveillance with 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras monitoring the crowd.“
We have made all possible arrangements for the safe and smooth conduct of Rath Yatra,” said Odisha DGP Y B Khurania.
Lakhs of devotees from around the country have already arrived in Puri, reaffirming the timeless devotion to Lord Jagannath and the unmatched spiritual fervor of the Rath Yatra.
