Gajapati Maharaja Leads Sacred Chhera Pahanra at Rath Yatra 2026

The sacred Chhera Pahanra ritual was performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb ahead of the annual Rath Yatra 2026 in Puri.

The Maharaja, dressed in white and carried in a silver palanquin, ascended each of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.

Using a golden-handled broom, he ceremonially swept the platforms, symbolising humility and the belief that even a king is a servant before the Lord.

The ritual was accompanied by chanting of Vedic hymns, Sanskrit slokas, showering of fragrant flowers, and sprinkling of sacred water, creating a sanctified atmosphere on the Bada Danda.

Following the sweeping, the Maharaja performed aarti and offered Chamer Seva to the deities.

Thousands of devotees witnessed the ritual, which carries profound spiritual meaning—emphasising surrender, equality, and humility before divinity.

The Chhera Pahanra remains a cornerstone of Odisha’s cultural and spiritual heritage, reinforcing the timeless devotion surrounding the Rath Yatra.