KalingaTimes Correspondent
Puri (Orissa): After spending nine days in the Gundicha temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra began their homeward journey that was celebrated as Bahuda Yatra in this holy town with great enthusiasm on Tuesday.

More than seven lakh devotees thronged the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to witness the ceremonial Pahandi procession of the deities and the Bahuda Yatra (return journey).

As soon as the deities were brought out of the Nakachana Dwar (exit gate), chanting of hymns rented the air. The Lords came galloping through the lengthy Gundicha temple corridor with swinging of giant floral tiaras on their head.

The Daitas, a special set of servitors, conducted the ceremonial Pahandi procession in the same manner and style in which the deities had come out of the main temple on the Rath Yatra day on July 16.

Earlier, Chenapatta Laagi (special armour) was fashioned to the body of the deities by the Daita servitors who had to work tediously all through Monday night. The deities were offered Khechidi Bhog before the Pahandi procession.

The ceremonial Pahandi began by 11-40 am and was completed by 1-50 pm. The Puri King Gajapati Divyasingh dev came in a royal procession riding a decorated palanquin to perform the Chhera Pahanra. In this religious service, the King sweeps the three chariots with a gold broom stick.

Swami Neeschalananda Saraswati, the Sankaracharya of Gobardhan Peetha, also came in a procession along with his disciples and offered prayers to the deities.

Pulling of the chariots began with Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra starting to roll at 4-10 pm followed by Darpadalana of Goddess Sauabhadra at 4-45 pm. Pulling of Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, began at 5 pm.

The famous Sana Besha of Lord Jagannath will be held on July 26. The deities would enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple on July 28 in a Pahandi procession called Niladri Bije.