Puri: Three day before the Bahuda Jatra, ‘Dakshina Moda’ (Southward) of chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings were made in the holy town Puri on Friday.
The three chariots parked on the Saradhabali in front of Jay-Bijaya Dwara of Shree Gundicha Temple, facing north since Rath Jatra, are turned towards Jagannath Temple in the south. The rituals began after the servitors brought ‘Agnya Mala’ (garland of the consent of the Lords).
Police personnel have pulled the chariots during ‘Dakshina Moda’. They expressed happiness and thanked Lord Jagannath for giving them the opportunity.
As per the ritual, Debadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra, was first pulled and turned towards Jagannath Temple in the south. After Debadalana, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot Taladhwaja and Jagannath’s Nandighosh have turned towards the south direction. The chariots are now kept near Nakachana Dwara, the eastern gate of Gundicha Temple.
According to sources, all rituals are going on smoothly in the Gundicha Temple. Dwarfita Niti, Bhitra Sodha, Mangal Aalati, Mailam-Tadpalagi Niti, and Abakasha Niti, Rosha Homa, Surya Puja, Dwarapala and Garuda Puja, Gopala Ballava Puja, Sakala Dhupa, etc performed in the morning.
Meanwhile, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee assumed office just a few hours after issuance of the appointment order.
Dr Padhee, who has reached Puri this morning, along with Puri district administration have started full preparations for smooth conduct of the Bahuda Jatra, to be held on July 15.
The Bahuda Jatra will also be held with participation of lakhs of devotees. As some untoward incidents happened during the Gundicha Jatra, the SJTA and State Administration is leaving no stone unturned for smooth conduct of all rituals of the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra during remain days of the Rath Jatra, till Niladri Bije.