The three majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra reached the Gundicha Temple on Friday, marking the successful culmination of the second day of the annual Rath Yatra.
The chariot‑pulling resumed early in the morning after being halted at sunset on Thursday. Thousands of devotees and police personnel joined hands to pull the Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana chariots along the Grand Road (Badadanda) amid chants of Jai Jagannath.
On the first day, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja had moved the farthest, while Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra halted near the municipal market and Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath advanced only a few metres before the ritual pause. With renewed devotion on Friday, all three chariots were successfully drawn to the front of the Gundicha Temple.
Devotees expressed overwhelming joy as the divine siblings completed their journey. “Seeing all three chariots arrive today filled us with immense joy and devotion,” said a pilgrim from Cuttack. Another devotee from West Bengal added, “Being part of the chariot‑pulling is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime spiritual experience.”
