Lakhs of devotees gathered in Puri, Odisha, as the Bahuda Yatra began with the Pahandi Bije rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan. This event signifies the deities’ return journey from Gundicha Temple to Shree Jagannath Temple after a nine-day stay. The holy triad was ceremonially brought to their chariots amidst traditional music and chants.
The coastal town resonated with chants of Jay Jagannath and Hari Bol as devotees witnessed the divine procession. Priests recited Vedic hymns, Odissi artists performed, and devotees danced and chanted in devotion. Following tradition, the king of Puri will perform the ‘Chera Pahanra’ ritual before devotees pull the chariots to Jagannath Temple.
Security measures have been heightened by temple officials, district administration, and Odisha Police to ensure the smooth conduct of the Bahuda Yatra. Inspector General of Police, Satyajit Naik, mentioned the deployment of 223 police forces for crowd control and security. With an expected footfall of around seven lakh devotees for the Yatra, elaborate arrangements have been made to manage the influx.
