Puri Rath Yatra: Live Updates

All three chariots at Gundicha temple: 

The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra have reached Gundicha temple. The chariots will remain stationed there. Security arrangements have been beefed up to avoid public congregation. That said, social distancing norms have clearly gone for a toss among the servitors and security personnel.

Nandighosha reaches Gundicha temple: 

Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath– reached Gundicha temple at 5:10pm.

Darpadalana reaches Gundicha temple: 

Darpadalana, also known as Devadalana — the chariot of Devi Subhadra — reached Gundicha temple at 4:11pm.

Taladhwaja reaches Gundicha temple: 

Taladhwaja, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, reached Gundicha temple at 3:52pm.

Nandighosa begins rolling on Grand Road:

After Taladhwaja of elder brother Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalana of sister Devi Subhadra, Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath started its journey towards Mausi Maa temple. Chariot pulling started at 1:50pm.

Goddess Subhadra trails brother Lord Balabhadra:

Darpadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra, has started rolling on Bada Danda amidst chant of hymns, blowing of conchs and beating of gongs and cymbals. Chariot pulling started at 12:55pm.

Chariot pulling begins: 

Chariot of Lord Balabhadra — the eldest among the Holy Trinity — is the first to be pulled. Hundreds of servitors started pulling the chariot at 11:55pm.

Ropes being tied to chariots: 

The ‘chara malas’ were taken off the chariots at 12 noon and ropes are being tied now. Wooden horses and charioteers are also being attached to the chariots of the Trinity. Servitors are getting prepared to begin chariot pulling which will begin shortly. Cops are on their toes to main discipline. That said, social distancing norms have gone for a toss even without a large congregation of devotees.

Gajapati returns to palace after Chhera Panhara

Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb returns to his place — also known as Sri Na’ara after sweeping the chariots in a golden broom. The ritual is known as Chhera Panhara.

A panorama of Puri Grand Road

Chhera Panhara begins: 

The Chhera Panhara ritual during which the first servitor of the Lord – Puri’s titular king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb — sweeps the chariots in a gold broom has begun. Chhera Panhara on Lord Balabhadra’s chariot was done at 10:45am, on Lord Jagannath’s chariot at 11:16am and Devi Subhadra’s chariot at 11:38am.

Shankaracharya boards chariots: 

Puri Shankaracharya Jagadguru Nischalananda Saraswati boarded the chariots after Pahandi rituals and paid his obeisance to the Lords. Shankaracharya is the religious head whose decisions are final when it comes to Jagannath temple rituals.

Pahandi continues: 

Lord Sudarshan was the first to be taken atop Darpadalana (also known as Devadalana), the chariot of Devi Subhadra. Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were taken atop their respective chariots -Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha afterwards.

Pahandi rituals begin:

Pahandi rituals of the three deities and Lord Sudarshan started after Mangalarpana. The Holy Trinity is being taken to their chariots in Dhadi Pahandi.

Prime Minister wishes citizens on Rath Yatra:

“My heartiest greetings on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra. May this occasion bring happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the people. Jai Jagannath,” the prime minister tweeted in Hindi.

Chief Minister wishes citizens on Rath Yatra: 

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also wished people a happy Rath Yatra. He prayed for the peace, prosperity and happy living for the people of the state. Besides, Patnaik also prayed to the Lords for a coronavirus-free world.

President of India wishes citizens on Rath Yatra:

President of India Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter to wish citizens on occasion of Rath Yatra.

Morning rituals:

The well-decorated three grand chariots parked near the Sri Jagannath Temple are waiting for the deities to mount them, though the usual crowd of devotees is missing this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Since morning, there have been frenzied activities in the temple as intricate rituals are being performed. Mangal Alati was performed at 3am. The rituals that followed were Tadaplagi, Dwarpala Puja, Besha Sesha, Rath Prathishtha and Mangalarpana.

1143 servitors tested for COVID-19; one tests positive

The COVID-19 tests of 1143 servitors were undertaken Monday as per the instructions of the Supreme Court. Out of the 1143 servitors tested, one has tested positive. The servitor who tested positive has been shifted to a COVID hospital.

The timelines for the ritual are as follows:  

• Mangal Alati             3.00am
• Mailama                    3:15am
• Tadap Laagi               3:30am
• Rosha Homa             4.00am
• Abakasha                  4:30am
• Surya Puja                 4:45am
• Dwarapala Puja        5.00am
• Besha Sesha             5.00am
• Gopala Ballava
• and Sakala Dhupa   5:30am-6:45am
• Ratha Pratistha          6:45am
• Mangalarpan           6:45am
• Pahandi begins          7.00am
• Pahandi ends            10.00am
• Madanamohan Bije   10am-10:30am
• Chita Laagi                10:30am-11.00am
• Besha Sesha             11am-11:30am
• Chhera Panhara       11:30am
• Charamala Phita      11:45am
• Pulling of chariots   12-noon

Temple decked up: 

Puri Rath Yatra begins:

The much-awaited annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is being observed in Puri amid a curfew and without devotees after the Supreme Court of India modified its earlier stay order to allow the conduct of the festival without devotees.

The government is leaving no stones unturned to ensure a smooth organisation of the festival. Top officials including several cabinet ministers, the chief secretary and police DG are camping in the town to supervise administrative efforts. Meanwhile, a curfew has also been imposed in the town till Wednesday 2pm to bar devotees congregating in Puri.

The temple administration and servitors have geared up to conduct the rituals on time and ensure that the COVID guidelines are not violated. The Grand Road, popularly known as ‘Bada Danda’ was sanitised and adequate numbers of police force have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.