Puri, | July 1, (OT Webdesk): As the Rath Yatra 2025 continues to draw multitudes to Puri, the sacred observance of Hera Panchami—steeped in divine symbolism and celestial emotion—captured hearts today.
On the fifth day of the festival, Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Jagannath, made her ceremonial journey to the Gundicha Temple in a majestic palanquin procession.
Her visit, both revered and dramatic, is rooted in mythology, marking her expression of displeasure at the Lord’s extended stay away from the Srimandir without her.
Upon reaching Gundicha, Lakshmi was received with reverence, but not without ritual drama. In a symbolic act that reflects her emotional protest, her attendants damaged a portion of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, an age-old tradition reenacting her divine ire.
The goddess then made a discreet return via a different route, emphasising quiet dignity and spiritual strength.
This evocative ritual—blending myth, devotion, and theatrical symbolism—has grown into one of the most anticipated elements of the Rath Yatra, evoking reflection on love, longing, and divine relationships.
