Bhubaneswar, 15 July (H.S.): The world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be held in Puri on Thursay with a series of age-old rituals that will culminate in the ceremonial journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad are expected to witness the grand annual chariot festival.

According to the schedule announced by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the day's rituals will begin with the Morning Dhupa at the Bhoga Mandap at around 9:00 a.m., followed by the consecration of the three chariots during the morning offering. The Mangalarpana ritual is scheduled to be performed at 9:15 a.m.

The much-awaited Pahandi Bije procession, during which the sibling deities are ceremonially carried from the sanctum of the Srimandir to their respective chariots amid chants of Jai Jagannath and devotional music, is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. The procession will continue until the completion of the midday offering rituals.

Following the conclusion of Pahandi, the representative deities Madanmohan, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna will also be taken in a ceremonial procession in accordance with long-standing temple traditions.

One of the most revered rituals of Rath Yatra, the Chhera Pahanra, will be performed between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. During this sacred ceremony, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri will symbolically sweep the platforms of the three chariots with a golden broom, underscoring the principle of humility and equality before Lord Jagannath.

After the completion of Chhera Pahanra, the chariots will be made ready for their journey as the ceremonial ropes are fastened and the horses and charioteers take their designated positions.

The pulling of the three chariots is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m., marking the commencement of the deities' annual journey from the Srimandir to the Gundicha Temple, regarded as the abode of their aunt.

The Odisha Government, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, district administration and Odisha Police have made extensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival, including elaborate security, traffic management, crowd control, medical services and public amenities to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage for the lakhs of devotees expected to participate in the sacred event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda