Lord Jagannath leaves for annual summer holidays today

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Puri/Ahmedabad, July 16 (UNI) Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balrama and sister Subhadra left for the annual summer holidays to the Garden temple on the auspicious day of 'Ashadi bij' today amidst the chanting of 'Haribol', the blowing of conches and the clanging of cymbals.

Puri, the home of Lord Jagannath, has been thronged by lakhs of devotees who converged at the three-km long 'Bada danda' (Grand Road) from the 'Sinha Dwar' (Lions Gate) of Jagannath temple to their summer residence, Gundicha temple to witness the world famous festival and catch a glimpse of the beautifully decorated deities.

Hundreds of temple servitors took the deities on their shoulders from the temple amidst blowing of conch shells through Ananda Bazar and the ''baishi Pahacha'' to the Lions Gate under tight security.

The ceremonial 'Pahandi' began at 0930 hrs after observance of mangal aarati, surya pooja and then offering of Gopal Bhog.

The three chariots - Taladhwaja, Nandhighosh, Darpadalan parked outside the temple to carry the deities to the Gundicha temple were decorated with Pipili applique, brass and metal art work to make them more attractive.

The chariots began rolling down the street after Puri King Divya Singh Dev performed the Chherapahanra (cleaning the three chariots with a golden broom).

All the devotees visiting the 'elephant state' have been insured and would be paid Rs five lakh in case of loss of life or permanent disability within the Puri Muncipality area during the festival.

The security arrangement comprised special contingency plan, high resolution electronic cameras monitoring the movement of the visitors along the Grand Road.

In Ahmedabad, three gigantic chariot of lord Jagannath or the ''Maakhan Chor'',, Lord Balavadra and Devi Subhadra reminiscent of the Jagannath Puri were pulled from Jagannath temple from Muslim dominated Jamalpur area by 1,200 burly men of Khalasi community all along the route amid deafening and sky rocking slogans '' Jai Ranchhod Maakhan Chor''.

In Jharkhand too, it was the same feeling of festivity, though not at such a large scale, as the chariots were pulled by devotees to be taken to Mausibari temple where the the lords would spend nine days.

The beginning of the festival in Tripura was marked with the rathyatra procession being carried out at Shri Shri Jaggannath temple, Laxmi Narayan temple, Melaghar and other parts of the state.

The festive mood was, however, dampened for a few hours in the morningfollowing incessant rainfall that continued till noon.

The same mood was replicated in Manipur where a massive chariot, carrying the three deities was pulled by large number of devotees at Shri Shri Govindajee temple complex at Imphal and various parts of the state.

Devotees attired in traditional clothes presented flowers and fruits to Lord Jagannath.

Colourful replicas of the traditional Ratha were on display and sold in the festival.

The festival has been observed in Manipur since the 18th century when the Manipuris got converted into Hinduism.

The festival has its foundation in the residents of Vrindavan bringing back their Lords, Krishna, Balaram and Lady Subhadra from Kurukshetra.

The Bahuda Yatra (returning of the Lords) would be held on July 24 and the Sunavesha of the three presiding deities on their respective chariots on July 26 next.

UNI

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