Bahuda Rath Yatra: Chariot pulling begins ahead of scheduled time

Bahuda Rath Yatra: Chariot pulling begins ahead of scheduled time

Bahuda Rath Yatra: Chariot pulling begins ahead of scheduled time

Puri: Rath pulling began considerably earlier than expected for the Chaturdhamurtis—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan—who are here today on their Bahuda Rath Yatra (Return Sojourn).

According to long-standing custom, Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaj Rath started rolling first at around 1:55 pm. While gongs were being beaten and Hulahuli, Haribold, and Dahuka Daka were conversing, police officers and thousands of devotees pulled raths (calls). The chariot continued to go along the Grand Road in "Gharghar Nada" (fictitious sound of wooden wheels on the pucca road).

The Taladhwaj Rath is 43 feet and 3 inches tall, has 14 wheels, and is constructed from 763 pieces of wood logs. Vasudeva is its protector, while Matali is its charioteer. Tribra, Ghora, Dirghasharma, and Swornanava are the names of the four horses that are tied to this Rath.

Following Taladhwaja Rath, Lord Jagannath's Nandighosh Rath and Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan Rath will be pulled in the second and third positions, respectively.

Notably, following a nine-day journey known as the Gundicha Yatra, the gods are returning to Shreemandir.