Bhubaneswar, 2 July (H.S.): Preparations for the much-awaited Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival) are underway, with the auspicious ‘Dakhina Moda’ ritual set to be performed today in Puri. This traditional ceremony marks the beginning of the return journey of the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadrato the Shri Jagannath Temple from the Gundicha Temple.

As per age-old custom, the Dakhina Moda ritual involves turning the chariots of the deities southward towards the main temple, symbolizing their readiness to return to their sanctum sanctorum. The ritual will commence only after the ‘Agyaan Mala’ (garland of consent) is brought from the Gundicha Temple.

The turning of the chariots will follow a prescribed order steeped in tradition, with each deity’s rath (chariot) rotated in succession. Following the Dakhina Moda, a special ‘Rahas’ ceremony will be held on the Adapa Mandapa, where the deities have been granting darshan to devotees since their arrival at the Gundicha Temple.

Meanwhile, the Hera Panchami ritual was solemnly observed late Tuesday night, marking another key tradition of the nine-day Rath Yatra. During this ritual, Goddess Laxmi, consort of Lord Jagannath, visited the Gundicha Temple and symbolically expressed her displeasure by damaging a portion of Lord Jagannath’s chariot. After receiving the Agyaan Mala from Lord Jagannath, she returned to the main temple via the Heragauri Sahi route.

The Bahuda Yatra is scheduled to be celebrated on July 5, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country to witness the divine return of the deities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda