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With the 'Niladri Bije' ritual held on Tuesday night, the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri concluded. As part of this sacred tradition, Lord Jagannath, along with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra—the principal deities of the Srimandir—were ceremoniously brought back to the 'Ratna Singhasana' inside the temple. This return procession, known as 'Goti Pahandi', was performed by the Daita servitors.
The 'Niladri Bije' marks the return of the deities to their sanctum. The most heart-touching aspect of this ritual is the symbolic expression of divine love and reconciliation between Lord Jagannath and his consort, Maa Lakshmi.
According to temple authorities, the rituals commenced after the Sandhya Dhupa (evening offerings). Special wooden ramps known as 'Charamalas' were attached to each of the three chariots. Meanwhile, Mudiratha servitors presented puspanjali (floral tributes) to the Holy Trinity on their respective chariots and performed the 'doralagi' ritual. As the Kahalia servitors sounded the ceremonial bugles, the 'Pahandi' procession began.
The first to be escorted was Lord Sudarshan, followed by Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, who were taken to the 'Ratna Bedi'. Finally, Lord Jagannath’s Pahandi was performed with great spiritual ecstasy among the devotees.
A unique and dramatic ritual then unfolded inside the temple. After Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra entered, Maa Lakshmi, still upset over being left behind during the Rath Yatra to Gundicha temple, ordered the Jaya-Vijaya doors to be shut. She denied Lord Jagannath entry as a form of protest for excluding her from the journey.
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Despite Lord Jagannath’s efforts to appease her, Maa Lakshmi remained firm. This led to a symbolic tug-of-war between her servitors and those of Lord Jagannath in front of the temple. The confrontation ended when Lord Jagannath admitted his mistake and promised not to repeat it. To further pacify her, he offered her Rasagollas—a gesture of love and reconciliation. Pleased by his apology and offering, Maa Lakshmi forgave him and ordered the temple doors to be opened for him.
Inspired by this divine episode, Rasagola is offered to the deities on their chariots before the Pahandi and later distributed among devotees. Devotees are also blessed with Mahaprasad, famously known as Nilachal Abhada, on this special occasion.
