Puri, July 28 -- Amid reverberating chants of "Jai Jagannath" and "Haribol", Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra made their ceremonial return to the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Jagannath Temple on late Monday night, marking the culmination of annual Rath Yatra with the sacred Niladri Bije ritual.
The deities were escorted from their chariots to the Ratna Singhasan (bejewelled throne) inside the Srimandir in the traditional Goti Pahandi procession led by the Daita servitors.
Along with the Holy Trinity, Sudarshan, Madanmohan and Ramakrishna were also ceremonially taken back to the temple.
The Pahandi procession commenced at around 9.15 p.m. and continued late into the night. As per tradition, Lord Balabhadra entered first, ...