Puri, July 18: The sacred ritual of ‘Adapa Bije’, one of the most significant religious ceremonies of the Jagannath Rath Yatra, was completed with reverence and tradition. On this occasion, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan were taken from their chariots to the Adapa Mandap at the Gundicha Temple through a traditional procession known as ‘Pahandi’. They will be available for devotees’ darshan for the next nine days. Extensive security and medical arrangements were ensured throughout the event.
Narasimha Pratikar, the chief servitor of the Jagannath Temple, stated that Adapa Bije is a crucial phase of the Rath Yatra. Today, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra take their place in the Gundicha Temple, which is considered their birthplace. They will reside here for nine days, after which they will return to the main temple through the Bahuda Yatra. Serving Lord Jagannath is akin to experiencing millions of virtues. Before the Adapa Bije, horses are removed from the chariots, and special ‘Charamal’ made from coconut trees is placed, allowing the deities to be carried in the Pahandi style to the Adapa Mandap, where they are seated on the Ratna Singhasan.
Narasimha Pratikar highlighted the vital role of various servitors in this divine ritual. The servants who stay behind the deities, those who support under their arms, and the guiding servitors work together to uphold this centuries-old religious tradition.
Ajay Mahapatra provided insights into the complete religious process of Adapa Bije, explaining that from morning, all traditional rituals for the deities are performed, including Mangala Aarti, Abakash, Gopal Vallabh, Sakaal Dhoop, Chandan Lagi, Mahasnana, Madhyahn Dhoop, and Sandhya Aarti. After the evening Aarti, the horses are removed from the chariots, Charamal is placed, and after offering flowers, the Pahandi journey of the deities begins. Subsequently, the deities are seated in the Adapa Mandap of the Gundicha Temple, where devotees can start their darshan the following day.
Regarding security during Adapa Bije, police officer Pratik Geeta Singh stated that due to the large crowd of devotees, a comprehensive deployment of police, Rapid Action Force (RAF), fire department, and medical teams was arranged. Security forces were deployed for effective crowd management, and under a special cordon arrangement, the deities were safely transported to the Gundicha Temple. The safety of the devotees is the administration’s top priority.
Meanwhile, Odisha’s Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling personally inspected the medical arrangements during the Puri Rath Yatra. He mentioned that he is continuously monitoring the entire health setup. Despite heavy rainfall the previous day, by the grace of Lord Jagannath, all three chariots reached their designated stops safely. The health minister reported that some devotees had arrived at the hospital with complaints of suffocation due to the crowd, but their conditions are now stable, and many patients have been discharged.
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