Bahuda Yatra of Jagannath: The last part of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is the Bahuda Yatra, which is the return journey of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the Gundicha temple. This return journey occurs on the ninth day of the Rath Yatra and is referred to as Bahuda in the Oriya language, which translates to “return”. What is the Bahuda Yatra of Jagannath and what are the stories and traditions associated with it? Let’s know through this article.
Start of the Bahuda Yatra of Jagannath
After nine days of stay in the Gundecha temple, the return journey of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra begins on the Dashami date. The journey commences with a majestic procession known as Bahuda Pahandi, held at the Gundicha Temple. In this procession, the three deities are also placed in their chariots—Nandi Ghosh (Jagannath), Taladhwaj (Balabhadra), and Darpadalan (Subhadra)—with rituals. The chariots are rotated to face the south and positioned near the Nakachana Gate of the Sri Mandir, a tradition known as Dakshina Mor. This sacred event witnesses the participation of thousands of devoted pilgrims.
Read More: Hera Panchami: A Celebration of Emotion, Devotion, and Deeper Meaning in the Rath Yatra
Resting at Mausi Maa Temple
Any yatra is incomplete without halts, and the Bahuda Yatra is no exception. On their way back, the three deities make a brief stop at the ‘Mausi Maa’ Temple, also referred to as the ‘Maa Ardhasani’ Temple. As per tradition, Mausi Maa once requested Lord Jagannath and His siblings to halt at her shrine so she could offer them food.
Accepting this request, the three deities stop at this temple, where they are served their favourite dish ‘Podo Pitha’. This traditional Odia delicacy, made with coconut, rice, jaggery, and lentils, is offered during the stop. After receiving this offering, the three deities resume their journey back to the Srimandir.
Meeting of Lord and Goddess Laxmi: Laxmi-Narayan Bheta
One of the most emotional and important moments of the Bahuda Yatra is the ‘Lakshmi-Narayan Bheta’. As Lord Jagannath’s chariot pauses in front of Gajapati Maharaj’s palace, Goddess Lakshmi, who awaits Him eagerly in the Srimandir, grows anxious with longing to behold her beloved Lord’s divine presence.
Then the servants bring the idol of ‘Suvarna Laxmi’ in a palanquin to the ‘Bheta Mandap’ or ‘Chahni Mandap’ from where she gets a glimpse of her husband Lord Jagannath. ‘Chahni’ means sight or glimpse, and ‘mandap’ means platform. At this moment, a curtain is drawn in front of Lord Balabhadra’s palanquin to prevent him from seeing the face of his younger brother’s wife, Goddess Lakshmi, as per Hindu tradition, where such a sight is considered inauspicious.
Gajapati Maharaj extends a warm welcome to Goddess Lakshmi by presenting her with ‘Dahipati Manohi’. Following this, he reverently carries her idol on his head and proceeds toward Lord Jagannath. In this meeting, Lord Jagannath presents his wife with the ‘Agyaan Mala’ (garland of consent) and promises to return. Upon receiving the garland, Goddess Lakshmi circles the Nandighosha chariot in reverence and then makes her way back to the Srimandir. This divine meeting is known as ‘Lakshmi-Narayan Bhet’.
Entry into the Temple and Rasgulla Day
After the meeting of Lakshmi Narayan, the Nandi Ghosha Rath resumes its journey and reaches the Singh Dwar of the Srimandir where the chariots of Balabhadra and Subhadra are already present. But here an interesting altercation takes place. Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is upset with the absence of her husband, keeps the temple doors closed at the Jai Vijaya entrance.
After this, a dialogue takes place between Lord Jagannath and Goddess Lakshmi in which the Lord admits his mistakes and offers many offerings, including rasgulla, to convince Lakshmi. This process continues till Goddess Lakshmi calms down and finally signals to open the doors of the temple. After this, Lord Jagannath enters the temple and the ceremony ends with this. This day is celebrated by the Odia community as ‘Rasgulla Divas’, which signifies this holy union and the love of the Lord towards his devotees.
Suna Besha and Niladri Bije
On the day after Lord Jagannath’s Bahuda Yatra, the deities are grandly dressed in ‘Suna Besha’—a splendid golden attire, where they are richly embellished with exquisite gold ornaments. All the chariots are kept at the Singh Dwar for two days. After this, on Trayodashi Tithi, the deities are brought to the main temple and are seated on their ‘Ratna Singhasan’. This ceremony, known as ‘Niladri Bije’, signifies the conclusion of the Rath Yatra festival
Conclusion
Jagannath Bahuda Yatra is a symbol of Odisha’s cultural identity and devotional spirit. During this time, every street, house, and shop is decorated, and devotees welcome the return of their deity with great enthusiasm. This sacred journey symbolizes the eternal and unbreakable connection between Lord Jagannath and His devotees.
FAQ- Bahuda Yatra of Jagannath
What is the Bahuda Yatra?
Lord Jagannath’s Bahuda Yatra is the journey of returning to the Sri Mandir after a 9-day stay in the Gundicha Temple. During this journey, many types of events are organized and traditions are performed.
