In a deeply spiritual culmination of the Ratha Jatra’s opening leg, the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra reached Saradhabali, the sacred expanse in front of the Gundicha Temple, where the deities will stay during the 11-day sojourn.
Lord Jagannath’s majestic chariot, Nandighosha, rolled into Saradhabali around 1:09 pm, following the arrivals of Taladhwaja (of Lord Balabhadra) and Darpadalan (of Devi Subhadra). The chariot pulling resumed promptly at 9:30 am after an unexpected halt the previous evening, attributed to divine will by the temple administration.
“It was all Lord Jagannath’s will,” affirmed SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, referencing the temporary halt that mystified devotees and security officials alike. While Taladhwaja had stalled at Balagandi Chhak, Devi Subhadra’s and Lord Jagannath’s chariots barely moved forward on Friday evening, despite the completion of all customary rituals.
Officials report multiple directional shifts by Taladhwaja that caused delays on Grand Road, prompting a revised pulling schedule. Despite the initial hiccup, the second day saw massive waves of devotees participate in the pulling, turning Puri into a sea of rhythmic chants, conch sounds, and divine fervour.
With the chariots now stationed at Saradhabali, the deities will reside at Gundicha Temple before their grand return on Bahuda Jatra. The spiritual momentum continues as lakhs from across India and abroad gather in Puri to celebrate this timeless expression of devotion and tradition.
