Puri: Bahuda Yatra or Return Car Festival ready to return Shree Mandir

Hectic preparations are underway for the Bahuda Yatra or Return Car Festival today at Puri. All three chariots of Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra are parked in front of the Gundicha temple, ready to return to the Shree Mandir. Akashvani correspondent reports that the deities would be escorted out in Pahandi one by one from the sanctum sanctorum of the Gundicha temple after some time.

 The Grand Road in Puri is all set for the return of the Trinity to Jagannath temple, with devotees flocking into the holy city since morning to participate in it. After observing special rituals, the ceremonial procession of carrying the deities from the sanctum sanctorum of the Gundicha temple will begin after some time.

If the rituals run as per the schedule, the pulling of the first chariot, Taladhwaj of Lord Balabhadra, would start by 2 pm. As part of the entire Rath Yatra, the deities will be decorated with ‘Suna Besha’ (golden attire) tomorrow on the chariots, which is expected to attract lakhs of devotees.

The three Gods will re-enter the shrine the following day to adorn the ‘Ratna Simhasana’ again and give darshan to their devotees till the next car festival. A multi-layer security net was thrown over Puri’s seashore town for the return car fete.