In a spectacle of divine grandeur, Lord Jagannath, lovingly known as Mahaprabhu, emerged from His sanctum at the Puri Srimandir to bless lakhs of devotees during the ceremonial Pahandi.
Amidst chants of “Ho Bhakate” and the rhythmic beating of cymbals and gongs, the Lord was solemnly escorted by servitors to his majestic chariot, Nandighosha, marking the beginning of the Rath Yatra festivities.
Following Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, the divine sister, was brought out in a similarly vibrant and ceremonial procession. Surrounded by servitors and accompanied by traditional music, she was gracefully led to her chariot, Darpadalana, receiving heartfelt chants and prayers from the assembled devotees.
The procession began with Lord Balabhadra, the eldest sibling, who stepped out of the temple first to the thunderous welcome of the faithful. He was escorted with reverence to his chariot, Taladhwaja, symbolizing the protective elder blessing the devotees gathered from across India and beyond.
This sacred sequence of Pahandi Bije — the ritual escorting of the deities to their chariots — marks the spiritual crescendo of the Rath Yatra and reaffirms the deep connection between the divine and the people.
