Puri (Odisha)- The divine journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra resumed today on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) in Puri, a day after an unexpected halt in the chariot pulling rituals during the annual Ratha Jatra festival.
Thousands of devotees, drenched in devotion and emotion, once again gathered to pull the sacred chariots — Taladhwaja, Darpadalan, and Nandighosha — as the air resonated with the sounds of gongs, conch shells, and chants of “Hari Bol”.
The procession recommenced from Balagandi Chhak, where the chariot of Lord Balabhadra had halted on the previous day due to unexplained reasons. Following his chariot’s movement, the chariots of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath also began rolling towards the Gundicha Temple, marking a continuation of the divine journey that was temporarily paused last evening.
According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the chariot pulling was stopped yesterday evening as dusk fell, and the decision was taken to resume the ritual the following morning. Despite the pause in movement, thousands of devotees stayed back through the night to catch a glimpse — a divine darshan — of the Holy Trinity seated on their majestic chariots.
With the resumed procession, the spiritual atmosphere in Puri reached new heights as the journey of the Lords progressed towards the Gundicha Temple, where they will stay for the next few days, continuing the cherished rituals of the Rath Yatra.
