All anticipation has come to an end. The Lord of the Universe set out for the Gundicha Temple. Leaving the Lion’s Gate (Singhadwara), Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot began its journey toward the Gundicha Temple. According to tradition, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot is pulled first. After the horses were yoked to the chariot, the pulling of the Taladhwaja chariot commenced. As the chariot moved, the Grand Road resonated with the sounds of gongs, bells, and the chanting of “Haribol.”
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Devotees Pulled the Chariots with Devotion
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After the Taladhwaja chariot, devotees pulled Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariot with great joy and enthusiasm. Finally, the chariot pulling of Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosa took place. The Governor and the Chief Minister also participated in pulling the Nandighosa chariot. As the chariots were being pulled, the entire Srikshetra echoed with the chants of “Jai Jagannath” from lakhs of devotees.
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The three chariots are currently stalled on the Grand Road. The Taladhwaja chariot stopped near the Market Square, and the Darpadalana chariot stopped near Marichikot. Similarly, the Nandighosa chariot moved only a short distance before stopping. Since the sun has set, the chariot pulling has been halted. The pulling of the chariots will resume tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM. Like last year, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot could not complete the turn.
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Before the chariots began their journey, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performed the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ (sweeping of the chariot platforms) ritual with a golden broom. In accordance with the tradition, the Gajapati Maharaja performed this sacred ritual in front of the Chaturdha Murti (the four deities) seated on the three chariots.
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The Grand Rath Yatra of the Lord Without ‘Tahiya’
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A shocking incident occurred during the world-famous Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra, which has deeply hurt the sentiments of the entire Odia community. During the ‘Pahandi’ procession, the ‘Tahiya’ (the elaborate headgear) of the Lord came off midway. The fact that the Lord’s head was without the ‘Tahiya’ during the Pahandi has caused profound distress to the emotions of the entire Odia nation.
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This Has Happened for the First Time; It Has Never Occurred Before
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Whenever the Pahandi of Lord Jagannath is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the sacred ‘Tahiya’ adorning the Lord’s head. It is not just an ornament; it is a centuries-old tradition, a part of the service ritual, and an invaluable symbol of faith and Odia identity. The absence of this sacred tradition has caused deep pain in the minds of the devotees.
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Questions are being raised in various quarters regarding whose negligence was behind this incident, whether there was a flaw in the process of tying the ‘Tahiya’, or if there was any carelessness in the service. Devotees have demanded an immediate, high-level, neutral, and transparent investigation into the matter and that strict action be taken against those truly responsible. The Jagannath culture is not just of Odisha, but a focal point of faith for crores of devotees worldwide. Therefore, the Odia people will never accept any negligence regarding the rituals, traditions, and dignity of the Lord.
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The Moody God
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You might have heard many stories about the supernatural tales of the ‘Moody God’ Jagannath. Nothing happens if Jagannath does not wish it. Not even a leaf stirs. You must have heard this. Today, during the Lord’s Pahandi, we saw proof of this. The Lord of the Universe followed his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra.
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The entire region resonated with the sounds of “Jai Jagannath” and “Haribol.” Amidst the sounds of hundreds of gongs, horns, and conch shells, the Lord of the Universe emerged from the Srimandir via the ‘Satapahacha’ (seven steps). The Daitapati servitors guided the Lord slowly through the ‘Dhadi Pahandi’ (procession).
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However, the Pahandi made it seem as if the Lord did not wish to leave Mother Lakshmi today. During the Pahandi, at times the Lord would twist and look back, and at other times, he would lean over. It took the servitors hours to move the wooden deities just a few paces. Every year, Lord Jagannath arrives during the Pahandi while the ‘Tahiya’ sways beautifully. But this year, the entire world was deprived of the opportunity to see the Lord in that divine attire as he descended to the Grand Road. The ‘Tahiya’ was not on the Lord’s head. As he was leaving the Srimandir, the ‘Tahiya’ fell off, and the Lord emerged with an empty head. The servitors placed Tulsi on the Lord’s head and conducted the Pahandi to take him to the Nandighosa chariot.
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Bite –
Regardless of caste, religion, or creed, the Lord is giving darshan to everyone in his ‘Patita Pavana’ form on the chariot. Devotees are overwhelmed with emotion after seeing the Lord on his chariot. But because there was no ‘Tahiya’ on the Lord’s head, the devotees are disappointed.
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Clarification Regarding the Removal of the ‘Tahiya’
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Daitapati Nijog Secretary Ramkrushna Das Mahapatra gave his reaction regarding the removal of Lord Jagannath’s ‘Tahiya’. He said the ‘Tahiya’ had become too heavy, so it was removed. Due to the rain, the weight of the ‘Tahiya’ had increased further. Because the Tulsi leaves got soaked in the rain, it became even heavier.
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Youth Daitapati Kirti Prakash Das Mahapatra said in his reaction that there was a risk of danger to the Lord’s physical form if the ‘Tahiya’ had not been removed. Therefore, it is said that the ‘Tahiya’ was removed during the Pahandi.
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It is noteworthy that making the ‘Tahiya’ is a sacred and hereditary service. Craftsmen from the Raghaba Das Math in Puri prepare it from Akshay Tritiya using entirely natural materials such as bamboo, cane, sola (pith), and various types of fragrant white flowers. Its measurement is also scripturally approved: 37 bamboo sticks are used for Lord Jagannath’s ‘Tahiya’, 33 for Lord Balabhadra’s, and 12 for Goddess Subhadra’s.
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