Odishatv Bureau

Puri: Today is Hera Panchami, celebrated at Gundicha temple on the fifth day from the start date of the Rath Yatra. As per tradition Goddess Mahalaxmi will break a part of Nandighosha chariot of Lord Jagannath during this festival.

During Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath comes out of his temple and leaves with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra for a nine day sojourn to the Gundicha temple.

On the fifth day, angry on Lord Jagannath for leaving her alone at the temple, Goddess Mahalaxmi leaves for Gundicha temple in a palanquin and first halts near Nandighosha, chariot of Lord Jagannath. After completion of ‘Bandapana’ ritual she comes to 'Jaya Bijaya Dwara' where she is provided with 'agyan mala' (a garland of consent) taken out from the body of Lord Jagannath.

As she is furious, the door of Gundicha temple is locked for her. Feeling insulted she asks her servitors to break a part of Nandighosha. Later she returns to the main temple through the Nakachana gate by taking the Hera Gohiri Sahi route.

Meanwhile, thousands of devotees have thronged Gundicha temple to get a glimpse of the Lord at his birth place.

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