Puri: Hera Panchami is an important and unique ritual of Jagannath culture. Hera means to see and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day. It is celebrated at the Gundicha temple on the fifth day from the start date of the Rath Yatra.
Legend has it that to vent out her anger on Lord Jagannath for being left behind, His consort Goddess Mahalaxmi leaves for Gundicha temple in a palanquin on the fifth day and asks Lord Jagannath to return back soon. To make Her pleased, the Lord concedes to Her by offering her agyan mala (a garland of consent). However, the servitors of Lord Jagannath close the main door of the Gundicha temple seeing the Goddess furious.
Insulted by the development, Mahalaxmi returns to the main temple through the Nakachana gate. In a unique ritual, the Goddess orders one of her attendants to damage a part of the Nandighosa chariot. After some time, she escapes to her home temple in secrecy, through a separate path way known as Hera Gouri lane.
The episode said to have drawn its origin from the Skanda Purana, the holy Hindu text.
Hera Panchami! Know The Significance Of This Unique Ritual
