The sacred Nandighosa chariot carrying Lord Jagannath successfully reached Saradhabali near Gundicha Temple on Saturday morning, after facing considerable delays and logistical challenges during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha.
The world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra began on Friday, June 27, as lakhs of devotees gathered to pull the three towering chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra along the 2.6 km stretch of Grand Road (Bada Danda) from the Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple. However, the journey was marred by multiple interruptions.
Logistical Challenges Delay Chariot Procession
The chariot of Lord Balabhadra, known as Taladhwaja, encountered difficulties early on, especially while negotiating turns near the royal palace and Marichikot Chhak. Technical efforts to regulate the ropes failed to yield immediate results, leading to delays of over three hours.
Similarly, crowd management posed serious challenges for the pulling of Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariot, as thousands of pilgrims gathered in close proximity, hindering its movement. The Nandighosa chariot carrying Lord Jagannath began its journey at 7:45 PM, but became stuck near the Lion Gate due to overwhelming crowd congestion.
Chariot Pulling Suspended and Resumed
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) made the decision to suspend chariot pulling on Friday evening citing safety and crowd-related concerns. An SJTA official confirmed the move, adding that pulling resumed at 9:30 AM on Saturday under improved conditions.
By Saturday morning, all three chariots had finally reached Saradhabali, greeted by chants of “Hari Bol,” conches, and drumbeats from ecstatic devotees.
Security and Ceremonial Highlights
To manage the enormous turnout and maintain safety, the Odisha government deployed over 10,000 police personnel and 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, especially in light of recent security concerns.
Despite a two-hour delay, the ceremonial Pahandi Bije was held on Friday, in which the deities were carried out of the sanctum and placed onto their respective chariots—Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra, Darpadalana for Devi Subhadra, and Nandighosa for Lord Jagannath.
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performed the traditional Chera Pahara ritual, symbolically sweeping the chariots. Among those present were Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other dignitaries.
Seven-Day Stay at Gundicha Temple and Upcoming Bahuda Yatra
The deities will reside at Gundicha Temple for the next seven days, following which they will return in the Bahuda Yatra on July 5. During their return, they will stop at the Mausi Maa Temple, where the traditional Poda Pitha offering is made.
Crowd Management Concerns Raised
While the divine procession ultimately concluded successfully, several devotees raised concerns about the delays and crowd management issues on Friday. The SJTA has acknowledged the concerns and assured that the matter will be reviewed to improve planning for future editions of the Rath Yatra.