World-Famous Rath Yatra Of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, And Lord Sudarshan Begins In Puri

The world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan began in the holy town of Puri in Odisha this evening. The Grand Trunk Road, where the three chariots of the Lords are being rolled, has turned into a sea of devotees. President Droupadi Murmu has joined the annual festival, where lakhs of devotees from different parts of the world have congregated to pull the chariots and have a holy darshan of the Lords. The festival marks the Holy Trinity’s journey to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple, and concludes with their return after eight days. Akashvani correspondent reports from the venue that the divine journey began with an elaborate royal ritual called ‘Dhadi Pahandi’ with the beating of the ghanta, kahali, and telling instruments. After Pahandi rituals, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati paid obeisance to the sibling deities on their chariots. The chariots will be pulled a short distance as per tradition before the sun sets and resume again tomorrow.