For the smooth conduct of the Bahuda Jatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, without participation of devotees, the Odisha Government has imposed curfew in Puri town starting from 8 pm on Monday. The curfew will continue till the end of the Jatra on July 20.
Sources in the Puri district administration said that no one will be allowed to witness the return journey of the Holy Trinity from rooftops on July 20.
“Like Ratha Jatra, prohibitory orders under Section 144 (CrPC) will be clamped in Puri from 8 pm on Monday in view of the Bahuda Jatra. No one will be allowed to witness the Jatra from rooftops,” said Puri Collector Samarth Verma.
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Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for the ‘Return Car Festival’ from Gundicha temple to Srimandir on the ninth day of Ratha Jatra.
The ‘Dakshina Moda’ ritual, or the southward turn, of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings stationed outside Gundicha Temple will be held today on the sixth day of the annual sojourn. This will mark the beginning of the preparations for the Bahuda Yatra.
During the ritual, the chariots stationed on the Saradhabali in front of Gundicha Temple, facing north since Ratha Jatra, will be turned towards Srimandir on the south with the help of servitors and security personnel. The chariots will then be kept near ‘Nakachana Dwara’, the eastern gate of Gundicha Temple.
After ‘Agyaan Maala’ or garland of consent of the Lords arrived from the Gundicha temple, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra, Darpadalan, will be first turned towards south. It will be followed by Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja and Jagannath’s Nandighosh.
Meanwhile, the chariot repair committee has fixed the minor cracks that have developed on three chariots-Taladhwaja, Nandighosh and Darpadalana.
“The minor cracks on the wheel and axle of the chariots have been fixed with small iron clamps and those are fully ready to roll,” said a member of the committee.