Lakhs of devotees witness Lord Jagannath’s celestial Ratha Yatra in Odisha’s Puri

By Biswa Ranjan Mishra

Puri (Odisha), June 28: Nearly 13 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad witnessed the majestic Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Odisha’s pilgrim city of Puri. An overcast sky and intermittent drizzles provided perfect weather for the crowd to immerse themselves fully in the divine journey of the deity.

As the day dawned, crowds began pouring into the coastal city by over 365 special trains and thousands of buses, alongside cars and bikes, to be part of the annual nine-day festival. All the rituals, including the Pahandi — the ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, elder brother Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra — commenced in the morning and concluded by noon.

The Gajapati King of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, reached Bada Danda (Grand Road) around 3 pm and performed Chhera Pahanra, the ritual sweeping of the chariots with golden broomsticks. Soon after, devotees began pulling the ornately decorated wooden chariots along the three-kilometre stretch from Srimandir to Srigundicha Temple, accompanied by the rhythmic playing of gongs, mridangams, trumpets, and performances of Odissi and Gotipua dances.

Odisha Governor Hari Babu Khambampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his ministerial colleagues, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and many other dignitaries who were present in Puri offered their prayers to the deities on the chariots.

As the chariots — Taldhwaja of Lord Balabhadra, Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra, and Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath — rolled along the Bada Danda, the air reverberated with cries of ‘Jai Jagannath’, filling the sky with devotion and spiritual fervour.

On the first day of Ratha Yatra or Car Festival, the deities embark on their annual divine sojourn from the sanctum of Srimandir to their aunt’s abode at Srigundicha Temple.

Early in the morning, ancient rituals commenced within the revered precincts of Srimandir as temple servitors performed sacred ceremonies steeped in Vedic chants and timeless customs. The deities were ceremonially brought out from the Ratna Bedi (sanctum sanctorum) amid the resonating beats of gongs, conches, and mridangas.

Chhera Pahanra – A Show of Humility

Among the highlights of the morning rituals was the regal Chhera Pahanra — a traditional ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the foremost servitor and spiritual sovereign of Puri. This profound ritual symbolises humility before the Lord and embodies the divine egalitarianism enshrined in Jagannath culture, where kings and commoners alike are but humble devotees.

Anticipating an unprecedented gathering of lakhs of pilgrims, the Puri district administration, supported by multiple state and central agencies, deployed a multi-layered security grid and robust arrangements. The Indian Railways operated 365 special trains to ferry devotees from across the country to the spiritual heartland of Odisha.

Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania oversaw the security arrangements.

What is Ratha Yatra?

Ratha Yatra, literally meaning ‘Chariot Journey,’ is more than a festival — it is a moving temple, a symbol of the Lord’s annual outreach to devotees, irrespective of caste, creed, or faith. While Srimandir’s sanctum remains exclusively accessible to Hindus on ordinary days, during Ratha Yatra, the Lord of the Universe steps out to bless humanity at large. Pilgrims of all faiths, from across India and abroad, gather to behold the deities atop their magnificently crafted wooden chariots.

It is believed that a glimpse of Lord Jagannath on His chariot bestows divine merit and can liberate one from the cycle of birth and death — granting Moksha (salvation).

The chariots themselves, constructed anew each year from freshly felled logs brought from designated forests, are marvels of traditional craftsmanship. Painted in vibrant hues — red and yellow for Jagannath, red and green for Balabhadra, and red and black for Subhadra — the three chariots are adorned with intricate motifs and ceremonial canopies.

Ratha Yatra also embodies Jagannath culture’s timeless inclusivity and cosmopolitan spirit. People from every walk of life — regardless of religion, nationality, or social standing — converge in Puri to offer their devotion. This cultural confluence not only reaffirms Odisha’s spiritual centrality but also its ancient tradition of welcoming all seekers under the unifying canopy of the Lord’s grace.

After their nine-day stay at Srigundicha Temple, the deities will return in the equally celebrated Bahuda Yatra, concluding with the glittering Suna Besha, when the Lords adorn golden ornaments atop their chariots.

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