Bhubaneswar: The annual Srigundicha Yatra, popularly known as the Rath Yatra, entered its final phase on Friday as Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandighosha, reached the Gundicha Temple in Puri, completing the ceremonial journey of the sibling deities from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple.
Earlier in the day, the chariots of Lord Balabhadra (Taladhwaja) and Devi Subhadra (Darpadalana) also arrived at the Gundicha Temple, where the deities will stay for a week before the return journey, known as Bahuda Yatra.
The ceremonial pulling of the three towering wooden chariots had begun on Thursday afternoon. However, the procession was suspended for the night after the traditional schedule extended beyond the prescribed ritual hours.
The chariots were stationed at different points along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) before the procession resumed on Friday morning.
Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja had halted near Market Chhak, Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana stopped at Marchikote Chhak, while Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha had covered only a short distance before the day’s rituals concluded on Thursday.
The pulling of the chariots resumed shortly after 9.30 am on Friday amid chants of “Jai Jagannath” by lakhs of devotees lining the Grand Road. The final stretch concluded peacefully under elaborate security arrangements.
The deities are scheduled to enter the sanctum of the Gundicha Temple during the ceremonial Adapa Bije ritual on Saturday. They will remain there for several days before embarking on the return journey to the main temple.
This year’s Rath Yatra also featured an upgraded waterproof braking system fitted to all three chariots, enhancing safety for thousands of devotees engaged in pulling the massive structures.
Each of the wooden chariots weighs more than 40 tonnes and is pulled manually with thick ropes by devotees. Before the introduction of the braking mechanism, controlling the movement of the chariots once they gained momentum was a significant challenge.
The braking system was originally conceived by retired engineer Ashwini Kumar Mishra, who developed a simple yet effective design using sal wood blocks, specially treated rubber straps and a chain-and-pulley mechanism. The system has since undergone further refinements and has become an integral safety feature during the annual festival.
The Rath Yatra, one of Hinduism’s largest and most celebrated festivals, draws lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad to Puri every year.
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