Puri, June 27(OT Webdesk): In a profound display of devotion and humility, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb carried forward Odisha’s revered tradition by performing the Chhera Pahanra ritual ahead of the grand Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri.
Draped in white and arriving in a silver-plated palanquin, the titular king ascended the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, ceremoniously sweeping each platform with a golden-handled broom.
The act, symbolic of equality before the divine, was conducted amid Vedic chants, floral showers, and the sanctity of sacred water.
The ritual concluded with the Maharaja offering aarti and performing Chamer Seva, reverently fanning the deities.
Thousands of devotees gathered along the Bada Danda, their voices echoing with spiritual fervour as they witnessed the moving scene unfold.
The Chhera Pahanra is more than a ceremonial act—it embodies the philosophy that even royalty serves the divine.
As Odisha embraces yet another year of Rath Yatra, the enduring interplay of ritual, royalty, and religion continues to inspire generations and reaffirm the state’s deep spiritual heritage.
