Puri :Pahandi Bije of Trinity completed by 2.30 PM.With chants of Hari Bol and Jay Jagannath, sounds of gongs, conches and cymbals, the ceremonial Pahandi Bije ritual of the Holy deities commenced at Puri at around 11 AM.
Lord Sudarshan was first taken to Darpadalan, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. The Pahandi Bije of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra is underway.
Lord Jagannath, the Lord of Universe, is also ready to move towards the Nandighosa chariot in a Dhadi Pahandi amid sounds of traditional musical instrument gongs played by Ghantua Sevayats.
The servitors are escorting the idols of Trinity from inside the shrine to their respective chariots- Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosa – in the ceremonial procession.
Lakhs of devotees were thrown to pilgrim town Puri to witness the rare Rath Jatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings today. After a gap of 53 years, the Rath Jatra is being celebrated for two days (today and tomorrow).
A number of customary rituals like ‘Netra Utshav’, ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ ‘Mangla Arati’ and ‘Mailam’ were held before the presiding deities — Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra — set out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Descending from the ‘Ratna Sinhasana’, the bejeweled throne, the deities are taken out of the temple down the 22 steps known as ‘Baisi Pahacha’ through the Lion’s Gate in an elaborate royal ritual called ‘Pahandi’.
In a rhythmic style, the deities moved forward step by step amid blowing of conch shells and ringing of bells.
The 45-feet high ‘Nandighosh’, the chariot of Jagannath, stood with 16 huge wooden wheels, while that of Balabhadra’s ‘Taladhwaja’ is 44-feet high with 14 wheels. Subhadra’s ‘Darpadalan’ is 43-feet high with 12 wheels.
After completion of Pahandi rituals, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati will pay obeisance to the holy trinity on their chariots.
Puri king Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha will perform Chhera Pahara, the ceremony in which he sweeps all chariots, one after another at around 4 PM. The chariot pulling is scheduled to begin with Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja at 5 PM.
Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra said that 180 platoons (one platoon comprises 30 personnel) of security personnel of both the state and central governments have been deployed to look after the law and order and manage the crowds during the festival.
Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV cameras have been installed at Badadanda, the venue of the festival, and other strategic locations in the pilgrim town, said ADG (law and order) Sanjay Kumar.
Special security arrangements have been made for the President’s visit to the festival. While a VIP zone has been planned for the Odisha governor, chief minister, Union ministers and other dignitaries, a buffer zone has been planned for the President, Kumar said.
A dedicated team led by a senior SP rank officer has been formed to supervise Murmu’s visit, he added.
Expecting a crowd of 10 to 15 lakh, arrangements have been made by the fire service department.
Altogether 46 modern fire tenders have been deployed in various parts of the town and along the sea beach for the Rath Yatra, said DG, fire service, Sudhanshu Sarangi.