Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad flocked to this seaside pilgrim town today to witness Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda Yatra' (return car festival) amid tight security.
A multi-layer security net was thrown in the town amid heavy deployment of force to ensure smooth celebrations and prevent any untoward incident, a senior police official said.
According to mythology, the three deities - Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra wrap up their annual nine-day sojourn to Sri Gundicha Temple, their birth place, and return to the Sreemandir or Sri Jagannath temple riding their three majestic wooden chariots.
Several special rituals were performed before the deities were brought out of the Gundicha temple and placed on the three colourfully decorated chariots for the return journey amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath'.
The deities were taken to their chariots in an elaborate ritual called 'Pahandi' to the beating of gongs, cymbals and blowing of conch shells.
Lord Jagannath was ensconced in the largest of the three chariots - the 45 feet-high 'Nandighosh', Balabhadra in his 44 feet-high 'Taladhwaja' and Subhadra in her 43 feet-high 'Darpadalan'.
Gajapati King of Puri Divya Singha Deb performed the 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual. He offered prayers to the deities and then swept the platforms of the chariots with a golden broom and sprinkled flowers and fragrant water.
The giant chariots were then pulled by devotees amid gaiety and devotion on 'Bada Danda' the grand avenue leading to the Sri Jagannath temple up to the Lion's gate in front of it where they would be stationed till Sunday.
The deities would finally re-enter the 12th century shrine and again be placed on the 'Ratna Simhasana' following a ceremony called 'Neeladribije'.
The deities would be decorated with 'suna besha' or golden attire tomorrow on the chariots, which traditionally attracts a large number of devotees.
