Chariots of Jagannath, siblings reach Gundicha Temple

Puri: The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, which had pulled up midway on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) yesterday, reached the Gundicha Temple today.

As per tradition, the pulling of the Raths of the deities is barred after sunset.

Pulling of the three chariots resumed at 9 am on Thursday.

While the Taladhwaja, chariot of Lord Balabhadra resumed its journey from near Balagandi, Darpadalana of Goddess Subhadra and Nandighosa of Lord Jagannath commenced the journey this morning from near Bagala Dharmasala and near Srinaara respectively.

On Wednesday, the pulling of chariots, the eagerly-awaited moment for all the devotees, began at 4:40 pm, more than an hour behind schedule, after the ‘chhera panhara’ by Puri King Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb.

As ordained by centuries-old tradition, Taladhwaja, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, was pulled first, followed by Debadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra and then Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, which began at 6:10 pm.