Bahuda Jatra: Devotees flock to witness 'Return Car Festival'

As the Pahandi rituals concluded, all deities were escorted to their holy chariots for their return after a 9-day-long stay at the temple. The devotees gathered around the chariots to have divine darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

Puri: Lakhs of devotees thronged the Gudicha Temple on Friday to take part in the Bahuda Rath Yatra or the 'Return Car Festival' which begins on the ninth day of Jagannath Rath Yatra from Gundicha Temple to Jagannath Temple in Puri.

As the Pahandi rituals concluded, all deities were escorted to their holy chariots for their return after a 9-day-long stay at the temple.

Lord Jagannath was taken to His chariot Nandighosha in a ceremonial ‘Dhadi Pahandi’ following his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan were escorted to their respective chariots in the morning.

Umashankar Das, Superintendent of Police (SP) said, "The Odisha Police has deployed 150 policemen to ensure the security of the public in the event. Sate Swift Action Force is also present to help with the security arrangements. We have imposed traffic restrictions in the nearby areas so that people don't face any problem while commuting. Parking space has been provided outside temple gate premises to tackle the parking problems."

The devotees gathered around the chariots to have a divine darshan of Lord Jagannath and His siblings. There is a belief that one attains salvation after having darshan of Lord Jagannath on chariot.

The three chariots have been named, Jagannath Rath as Nandighosh, Balaram's Rath as Taladwaja and Subhadra's Rath as Darpadalana.

It is considered to be a good omen and is also believed to bring luck and success if one gets a chance to pull the chariots.

The chariots will be pulled at around 4.00 pm.

(With inputs from ANI)