Curtains come down on the Rath Yatra festival in Odisha’s seaside pilgrim town Puri, with the Holy Trinity returning to the sanctum sanctorum of Srimandir after concluding their annual sojourn to Mausi Maa temple amid the sea of devotees.
The divine idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were taken in a ceremonial Pahandi.
The Pahanadi of the holy trinity commenced after “Bije Pratimas” Lord Ramakrushna, Shree Madanamohana proceeded to the temple.
Before the Niladri Bije rituals commence, the sibling deities Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Badathakura Shree Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra gave darshan to devotees from atop their chariots outside the temple.
The Niladri Bije ritual, held after the Suna Besha and Adharapana, is the final episode of the Rath Yatra. From tomorrow onwards, devotees will have the darshan of the Holy Trinity at Srimandir.
Rituals like Mangala Alati, Mailam, Sakaladhupa, Sandhya Alati and Sandhya Dhupa were performed on the chariots. All the rituals were followed by Charamaala tying. Later, the Pahandi of the idols started.
As per tradition, Goddess Laxmi closed the Jaya-Vijay door of the temple and didn’t allow Lord Jagannath, her husband, to enter to vent her anger as he left her behind in the temple alone.
To pacify the irate goddess, Lord Jagannath offered Rasagola and entered the temple. The day is also observed as Rasagola Dibasa in Odisha.
Heavy rain lashed Bada Danda during Niladri Bije ritauls drenching devotees in showers of Lord Jagannath’s blessings.
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