Puri: Rath Yatra, the annual sojourn of the Holy Trinity- Lord Balabhadra, Mahaprabhu Jagannath and Devi Subhadra concluded today as the sibling deities were ushered to the sanctum sanctorum in ‘Goti Pahandi’ during the Niladri Bije ritual. Lord Jagannath and Goddess Mahalaxmi’s meeting ritual was carried out on the Charamala following which the Bachanika ritual was conducted at the Jay-Vijay Dwar.
Lord Rama, Krishna & Madanmohan were first taken inside Srimandir in ‘Pahandi’ followed by the Pahandi of Lord Sudarshan.
Subsequently, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were carried into the sanctum sanctorum of the Srimandir by the fervent servitors amidst a massive crowd of devotees witnessing the deities’ return to the temple.
Following this, Lord Jagannath was escorted to ‘Bheta Mandap’ in the ceremonial Pahandi where He met Goddess Laxmi and offered Rasagolas to her. It is believed that the Mahaprabhu offers the sweet to appease Goddess Laxmi, as she was upset after being left alone at the Srimandir by the Holy Trinity. After completion of the ritual, Lord Jagannath was escorted to the Ratna Singhasan where he joined his siblings.
Niladri Bije of Mahaprabhu Jagannath
Niladri Bije of Devi Subhadra
Niladri Bije of Lord Balabhadra