Puri: A profound wave of devotion swept through the holy town of Puri on Friday afternoon as the grand chariots of Lord Jagannatha and his divine siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, safely reached their destination at the Shree Gundicha Temple. The arrival marks a beautiful, albeit delayed, culmination to the first phase of the annual Rath Jatra, bringing tears of joy and immense relief to the ocean of devotees who gathered from far and wide.
The journey, which usually concludes on the day of the festival itself, was paused on Thursday evening due to the sacred tradition that forbids the pulling of chariots after sundown. As fading light blanketed the Grand Road around seven in the evening, the massive wooden carriages came to a halt at different points along the path. Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot rested at Market Chhak, Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana paused at Marichikote Chhak, and Lord Jagannatha’s Nandighosha remained close to the Lion’s Gate of the twelfth-century shrine.
For the thousands of faithful souls who had traveled across nations, the delay became a blessing in disguise. The deities spent the night under the open sky upon their chariots, granting an unprecedented all-night darshan. Despite inclement weather and tightly controlled security, families and solo pilgrims stood side by side through the dark hours, their eyes fixed on the moonlit faces of the lords, finding solace in their uninterrupted presence. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri, comforted the faithful by reminding everyone that throughout history, the chariots have often taken an extra day to reach their destination, and that love and patience are central to this divine journey.
When Friday morning broke, a renewed spirit took over the holy town. Filled with fresh vigor and chanting prayers of Jai Jagannatha and Hari bol, thousands of hands gripped the sacred ropes once more. Starting at nine forty-five in the morning, the chariots began to move one by one. Lord Balabhadra led the way, followed by his sister Devi Subhadra, and finally Lord Jagannatha’s chariot rolled onto the sacred sand patch of Saradhabali in front of the Shree Gundicha Temple, completing the two point six kilometer journey to their birthplace.
This year’s procession carried a rare and poignant sight that touched the hearts of many. Due to heavy rains, Lord Jagannatha appeared before his children without his traditional, ornate floral crown, known as the Tahia. The heavy headgear had to be removed after becoming waterlogged, revealing a raw and striking image of the Lord enduring the elements alongside his devotees.
Yet, the immense joy of the festival was met with a quiet shadow of grief. The overwhelming crowd and humid weather conditions claimed the lives of two devotees. The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the losses, offering prayers for the departed souls who breathed their last while seeking a glimpse of the divine.
To ensure the safety of the lakhs of people filling the streets, an extensive security web kept watch over the town. Thousands of police personnel, specialized central forces, and advanced surveillance systems monitored the Grand Road, while the Indian Navy and Coast Guard patrolled the nearby waters.
According to Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of the temple, the sibling deities will spend Friday night resting aboard their chariots. On Saturday evening, they will be gently carried inside the Shree Gundicha Temple, where they will reside until the return car festival, the Bahuda Jatra, calls them back home on July twenty-fourth.