Puri: Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are all set for their return journey home from Srigundicha temple on the occasion of Bahuda Yatra Sunday amid tight security.
The deities would, however, not enter the Srimandir, but stay outside its Lions’ Gate on their respective chariots for three days starting Sunday.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), meanwhile, has turned Nandighosha, Taladhwaja and Darpadalan chariots around in the direction – southerly — of Srimandir at Saradhabali near Srigundicha temple. “Carpenters and experts have examined the three chariots thoroughly. The chariots have been parked at the Nakachana gate of Srigundicha temple,” said an official of the SJTA.
SJTA sources said rituals for the Bahuda Yatra are scheduled to start at 4 am Sunday. The three deities would be carried to their respective chariots from the Adapa Mandap of Srigundicha temple in the ceremonial Pahandi procession.
“The Pahandi procession would start at noon after completion of routine rituals like Mangalarpan and Khechudi Bhog. The chariots would be pulled towards Srimandir at 4 pm after completion of Chherapanhara by 3 pm,” said the temple official.
Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees braved incessant rainfall to visit Srigundicha temple Saturday and pay obeisance to the deities. SJTA sources claimed that the temple administration would take all possible steps to pull the three chariots to the Srimandir Lions’ Gate by Sunday night.
“If required we would arrange bright lights to continue the pulling of chariots after nightfall,” said Srimandir public relations officer Laxmidhar Pujapanda.
It is worth mentioning that the deities would be adorned with gold ornaments on their respective chariots as part of Suna Besha ritual July 23 (Monday). Besides, servitors would offer Adharapana (a delicious drink) to deities July 24 (Tuesday).
The district administration, meanwhile, has beefed up security arrangements. “The Holy City has been placed under a three-tier security system for the Bahuda Yatra,” said a police officer.
PNN