Bhubaneswar, July 17: The annual Gundicha Yatra in Puri reached its final phase on Friday as Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha chariot arrived at the revered Gundicha Temple, completing the outward journey of the world-famous Rath Yatra. Earlier in the day, the chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra also reached the temple amid chants of “Jai Jagannath” and the presence of lakhs of devotees.
The ceremonial pulling of the three majestic wooden chariots had commenced on Thursday afternoon along the historic Bada Danda (Grand Road). However, the procession was suspended for the night after the scheduled pulling extended beyond the traditional ritual hours. To ensure safety and maintain religious customs, the chariots were securely stationed at different points along the rain-soaked Grand Road before the journey resumed on Friday morning.
During the overnight halt, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot was stationed near Market Chhak, while Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariot halted at Marchikote Chhak. Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha had moved only a short distance before the day’s rituals concluded on Thursday.
With the resumption of the procession on Friday, thousands of devotees enthusiastically pulled the towering chariots towards the Gundicha Temple, regarded as the garden abode of Lord Jagannath. The arrival of all three deities at the temple marked the successful completion of the Gundicha Yatra, one of the most significant rituals of the annual Rath Yatra festival.
The district administration, police and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration ensured elaborate security, crowd management and smooth conduct of the event despite intermittent rainfall. The deities will now remain at the Gundicha Temple for several days before beginning their return journey to the Jagannath Temple during the Bahuda Yatra, another major highlight of the festival.
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