PURI: Hera Panchami, a unique ritual during the period of Rath Jatra, was celebrated here today. It is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the Rath Jatra.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Gundicha temple to get a glimpse of the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and goddess Subhadra on this auspicious day.
During the holy Ratha Jatra, Lord Jagannath comes out with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra along with his divine weapon Sri Sudarshana for a nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha temple, leaving behind his wife Goddess Mahalaxmi at Sri Mandir.
Legend has it that to vent out her anger on Lord Jagannath for being left behind, Goddess Mahalaxmi leaves for Gundicha temple and asks Lord Jagannath to come back soon. She is offered Agyan mala (a garland of consent). However the servitors of Lord Jagannath close the main door of the Gundicha temple seeing the Goddess furious.
Insulted by the development, Mahalaxmi asks her attendants to break a part of Nandighosha. She then returns to the main temple through the Nakachana gate by taking the Hera Gohiri Sahi route.
Kalinga AI