Puri: The three chariots of the Trinity have reached the Sharadhabali in front of the Gundicha temple, marking the successful completion of this year’s Rath Yatra.
The Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra arrived first, followed by Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra, and finally Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath, which reached the temple around 2.45 pm. The holy city of Srikshetra echoed with chants of “Jay Jagannath” and “Haribol” as lakhs of devotees witnessed the divine arrival.
After the morning rituals and Sakala Dhupa Niti, the chariot‑pulling resumed at 9:30 am, completing the second day’s journey. Senior servitor Binayak Dash Mahapatra confirmed that tomorrow (Saturday), the Tri‑Murti along with Lord Sudarshan will be ceremonially taken into the sanctum of Gundicha Temple, known as the Adapa Mandapa. The rituals will begin with Mangala Alati and continue till Sandhya Dhupa, followed by Charamala Bandha before the deities enter the temple.
Chief Administrator of SJTA Dr. Arabinda Padhee stated that devotees will be allowed darshan after completion of the prescribed rituals. DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania said the Rath Yatra concluded peacefully, with tight security and coordinated efforts by police, administration, and servitors ensuring smooth proceedings and disciplined crowd management at Sharadhabali.
“We had been waiting since yesterday to witness the chariots reach Gundicha Temple. Seeing all three chariots arrive today filled us with immense joy and devotion,” said a devotee from Cuttack.
“Despite the long wait and the huge crowd, being part of the chariot-pulling is a blessing. It is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual experience,” said another devotee who had travelled from West Bengal to attend the festival.