Subrat Kumar Sarangi
Bhubaneswar (NVI): On the auspicious occasion of Niladri Bije, the last ceremony of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra and his return with his siblings from the Chariot to Sri Jagannath Temple, the deities returned to the Ratna Bedi today.
Niladri Bije is the concluding episode of Rath Yatra after Suna Besha & Adhara Pana. The rituals started today at 4pm and Goti Pahandi of deities will start by 5pm, Puri’s Collector, Balwant Singh said.
Among all the rituals of Rath Yatra, the most interesting and last ritual is Niladri Bije. Goti Pahandi is the procession of trinity from the chariots to Ratna Singhasana.
Historically, this is the continuation of the fight between Lord Jagannath and Goddess Laxmi. Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra enter the temple after they return from the vacation, but Goddess Lakshmi did not allow Lord Jagannath to enter into the temple. A fight happens between Lord Jagannath and Laxmi in front of the temple as he did not take her along for the vacation to his aunt’s place.
As per the tradition, Lord Jagannath is taken to Bheta Mandap to meet the angry Goddess Laxmi and offer her Rasagola to calm her down and seek her forgiveness. After several persuasion finally Laxmi allows him to enter the Jagannath Temple in Ratna Singhasana.
-CHK
