Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath on Tuesday returned to the 12th-century shrine here through a ritual called ‘Niladri Bije’, 12 days after the start of the annual Rath Yatra.Niladri Bije ritual marks the culmination of the annual Rath Yatra which started on June 27 this year when the trinity rode chariots to travel to their birthplace at Shree Gundicha Temple, nearly three kilometres from the main temple.
The deities, waiting for the Niladri Bije ceremony by sitting on their respective chariots since Saturday (Bahuda Yatra on July 5), were taken inside the temple’s sanctum sanctorum through “Pahandi” (ceremonial procession), one by one and seated on the ‘Ratna Bedi’ (the sacred platform on which the deities are seated).
Shree Sudarshan, the wheel weapon of Lord Vishnu, was first to be taken inside the temple followed by Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, Finally, the Pahandi of Lord Jagannath will take place took place amid chanting of ‘Haribol’, ‘Jai Jagannath’ and beating of gongs, cymbals, blowing of trumpets. During Lord Jagannth’s ‘pahandi’, he was obstructed on the way to the main temple by his consort Maha Laxmi, who was angry over her husband for not taking her on Rath Yatra. Finally, Lord Jagannath appeases his consort by offering her Rasagolla and costly saree.
A conversation between Lord Jagannath and Maha Laxmi takes place through their respective servitors, which is called ‘Laxmi-Narayan Kali’, which means quarrel between the Lord and his consort.