The revered Niladri Bije ceremony, marking the grand finale of the nine-day Ratha Yatra, will take place on Tuesday as Lord Jagannath, along with Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Shri Sudarshan, return to the Shri Mandir’s Ratna Simhasana (sacred throne).
The ceremonial procession, known as Pahandi, will commence at 4:00 PM and conclude by 10:00 PM. Prior to the Pahandi, rituals such as Sandhya Alati (evening worship), Sandhya Dhupa (evening offering), and Charamala Bandha will be performed on the chariots.
The throne will be cleaned by Palia Sevakas, followed by Pushpanjali (floral offerings) to the deities. The Niladri Bije rituals include Mahasnana (grand bathing), Rosha Homa (fire ritual), Mailama (removal of previous adornments), Chandan Lagi (sandalwood application), Surya Puja, Dwarapala Puja, Bada Singha Besha (grand adornment), and Raatra Pahuada (night rest).
A unique tradition during this event is the Lakshmi-Narayana Kali, where Lord Jagannath offers Rasagola to Goddess Mahalakshmi to appease her, symbolising reconciliation after his absence during the Ratha Yatra.
The Srimandir administration has ensured elaborate arrangements for this sacred event, drawing thousands of devotees to witness the divine homecoming.
