Historic delay halts Lord Jagannath’s chariot procession, pulling to resume in the morning
Puri, June 27, (OT Webdesk): In an unexpected turn during the world-renowned Puri Rath Yatra, the pulling of the divine chariots was suspended after an unprecedented delay disrupted the sacred ritual on Friday evening.
This year marked a rare moment in history as Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosa chariot began its journey as late as 7:45 PM—far beyond the customary hours—following a massive surge of devotees breaching the cordoned safety zone on Grand Road.
Despite the odds, servitors and devotees managed to initiate the ceremonial pulling in adherence to tradition. However, after travelling a short distance, the Nandighosa chariot was brought to a halt near the Puri Grand Road junction. The Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, was reportedly informed of the disruption before the decision was made to pause proceedings.
Simultaneously, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot was stationed near Market Chhak, while Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan halted near Marchikote Chhak.
Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), announced that the sacred pulling would resume at 9:30 AM tomorrow. Despite the interruption, devotees remained in high spirits, chanting bhajans late into the night.
This incident highlights the delicate balance between devotional fervour and logistical precision during large-scale spiritual events.
