The holy town of Puri in Odisha erupted in devotion on Friday, 25 July 2025, as the Bahuda Yatra — the ceremonial return journey of the deities to Shree Jagannath Temple — commenced with the Pahandi Bije rituals of Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Balabhadra, sister Devi Subhadra, and the celestial weapon Chakraraj Sudarshan. Around seven lakh devotees are expected to witness the Bahuda Yatra on Friday, with footfall projected to exceed 10 lakh during the Suna Besha ritual on Saturday.

The Sacred Return Journey

The Bahuda Yatra marks the conclusion of the deities' nine-day sojourn at the Gundicha Temple, also known as Adap Mandap. In a grand ceremonial procession, the holy triad was brought to their respective chariots to the enthralling sound of traditional musical instruments. The coastal city reverberated with chants of 'Jay Jagannath' and 'Hari Bol' as devotees gathered in their lakhs to witness the divine spectacle. Priests chanted sacred Vedic hymns while traditional Odissi artists performed alongside devotees dancing in states of devotional ecstasy.

The Chera Pahanra Ritual

Following the Pahandi Bije procession, the Gajapati — the king of Puri, Dibya Singh Deb — is set to perform the ceremonial sweeping of the three chariots with a golden broom, a revered tradition known as 'Chera Pahanra'. Only after this ritual will devotees begin pulling the chariots from the Gundicha Temple back to the Shree Jagannath Temple. This centuries-old custom underscores the unique democratic spirit of the festival, where even a king assumes the role of a humble servant before the Lord.

Security and Administration

Temple officials and the district administration have made extensive preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of all rituals. Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Satyajit Naik told reporters that 223 police forces have been deployed across crowd control, traffic management, chariot dragging, night guarding, and coastal security duties. He noted that security arrangements have been intensified this year in response to the heavier-than-usual pilgrim influx expected during both the Bahuda Yatra and the Suna Besha rituals.

What Comes Next

With the Bahuda Yatra chariot procession underway on Friday, attention will shift to the Suna Besha — the golden attire ritual — on Saturday, when the deities are adorned in ornaments of gold and the crowd is expected to swell past 10 lakh. The Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha together mark the culmination of the broader Rath Yatra festival cycle, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Authorities have urged pilgrims to follow crowd management guidelines to avoid any untoward incidents.