End of Banajaga Yatra as all ‘darus’ reach Puri

Puri: The Badadanda or Grand Road in this pilgrim town reverberated with chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’, Vedic hymns and ululation as devotees gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the ‘daru’, the holy wood meant for making the new idol of Lord Jagannath, which reached Srimandir this morning.

Lakhs of devotees marched in a procession while many others joined the servitors in pulling the ‘sagadi’ (the special cart to carry the holy wood) to the temple. Several Sankirtan teams, religious flag-bearers along with musicians blowing trumpets, beating cymbals and blowing conches led the daru procession.

Later, the sagadi was taken to Koili Baikuntha within the Simandir premises through the north gate of the temple. The sagadi continued its onward journey from Yajnanurshingha temple in the morning.

The Banajaga team accompanying the daru had began their journey from Kharipadia of Raghunathpur in Jagatsinghpur district on May 14. After the 8-day-long journey, the daru reached Koili Baikuntha marking the columniation of the Banajaga Yatra here today.