Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra’s chariots reach Shree Gundicha Temple a day after Ratha Yatra

The chariots of Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra, pulled by devotees reached their destination at Shree Gundicha Temple on Wednesday after being stranded for the night on the Grand Road which connects the temple to the 12th century Srimandir here.

Devi Subhadra’s chariot ‘Darpadalan’ was stranded at Bandasakha about 200 m away from the destination, while Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nandighosh’ at Galagandi, about two km from Gundicha temple during the Ratha Yatra on Tuesday.

Sibling deity Lord Balabhadra’s chariot ‘Taladwaj’, which leads the three, had reached Saradhabali, in front of Shree Gundicha temple.

The chariot pulling was stopped at 8 pm on Tuesday.

The idols are, however, yet to be taken inside Gundicha temple, where they will be present till June 28. They will then be taken back to the Srimandir (Shree Jagannath Mandir) in Bahuda Yatra.

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) officials said that the sibling deities will remain on their chariots for the time being and will be taken to the Adapa Mandapa of the Gundicha Temple in the customary ‘Pahandi’ ritual on Thursday evening.

SJTA is looking into the reason for the delay by the chariots in reaching Gundicha Temple, they said.

They were taken out of the Shree Jagannath temple after completing the myriad rituals ahead of time and were slated to reach Gundicha Temple, which is about three km away, by 6 p m on Tuesday, they added.

Senior servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra said there were more people on the chariots and also in the inner cordons, which affected the pulling of the gigantic chariots and led to the delay.

SJTA chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das when asked said, “All happens as per the wishes of Lord Jagannath”.

Meanwhile, the pilgrim seaside town witnessed on Wednesday the same enthusiasm which was seen on Rath Yatra when the chariots were pulled towards Gundicha temple.