The ceremonial procession of the deities known as 'Pahandi' is currently taking place at Puri's Jagannath temple during the Rath Yatra.

On a bright Sunday morning, the ceremonial 'Pahandi' ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra began around 11 am in Puri. The air was filled with the melodious chanting of 'Jai Jagannath' and the sound of gongs, conches, and cymbals as the three deities were being prepared for their grand procession. The temple at Lion's Gate was bustling with activity as Lord Sudarshan was the first one to be escorted to Darpadalan, the chariot of Devi Subhadra.

With great devotion and excitement, the devotees followed the procession of Lord Sudarshan, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Lord Balabhadra. The air was filled with a sense of joy and reverence as the second chariot, Taladhwaja, was being taken out for Lord Balabhadra. As the sister of Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra was brought out in her chariot, Darpadalan, in a special procession led by the servitors.

Finally, the much-awaited moment arrived when Lord Jagannath was taken out of the temple in a grand procession towards the Nandighosa chariot. The air was filled with the energetic sounds of gongs as the beloved deity descended from his bejeweled throne, known as 'Ratna Sinhasana'. With great reverence, the three deities were taken down the 22 steps, known as 'Baisi Pahacha', through the Lion's Gate in a royal ritual called 'Pahandi'.

Before the presiding deities embarked on their journey, a number of customary rituals such as 'Mangla Arati' and 'Mailam' were performed. Finally, the majestic chariots stood tall in front of the Singha Dwar of the temple, facing east towards the Gundicha temple. As per the schedule, the Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb performed the Chherapahanra of the chariots at 4 pm. The wooden horses were then fixed to the chariots, and the pulling was scheduled to start at 5 pm.

With great enthusiasm, Lord Balabhadra led the procession riding Taladhwaja, followed by Devi Subhadra in Darpadalana, and finally, Lord Jagannath on Nandighosa. The whole town of Puri was filled with lakhs of devotees who had come to witness the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. In anticipation of this grand event, special arrangements had been made as the honorable President, Droupadi Murmu, was also going to witness the Rath Yatra after 53 years. Truly, it was a day filled with devotion, excitement, and joy for all those who were fortunate enough to be a part of this auspicious occasion.

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