Niladri Bije: Rath Yatra concludes as Bhagwan Jagannath, Balbhadra and Devi Subhadra return to Puri Srimandir

With the Niladri Bije ritual on the night of July 19, the Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannath concluded. Bhagwan Jagannath, his elder brother Bhagwan Balabhadra, and sister Devi Subhadra, the presiding deities of Sri Jagannath Mandir, were escorted into the Ratna Sinhasana of the Shrimandir from their respective Raths in a ceremonial procession (Goti Pahandi) conducted by Daita servitors on the night of July 19.

The homecoming of the deities, popularly called Niladri Bije, continued till midnight as rituals like Pahandi were delayed by about five hours. The Mandir schedule for Pahandi was fixed for 4 pm on July 19 but began at about 8.30 pm.

In the Niladri Bije ritual, the deities return to their Ratna Singhasana. The most significant part of this ritual is the portrayal of heavenly love and affection between Bhagwan Jagannath and his wife, Maa Lakshmi.

Mandir sources said the process for the ‘Niladri Bije’ ritual started after ‘Sandhya Dhupa’. Charamalas were fixed to each of the three chariots. Meanwhile, Mudiratha servitors offered puspanajali (floral offerings) to Bhagwan Jagannath Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on their respective Raths and carried out the “doralagi” ritual. Kahalia servitors blew a bugle, after which the Pahandi of Bhagwan Jagannath and his siblings began.

After the Pahandi of  Bhagwan Sudarshan, Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were taken to the Ratna Bedi. And at last, the pahandi of the Bhagwan Jagannath took place.

Then, a very interesting ritual was observed inside the Mandir. After Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra entered the Mandir, Maa Lakshmi ordered to close the Jay-Vijay door. Maa Lakshmi was very upset because Bhagwan Jagannatha did not take her along during the annual Rathyatra to Gundicha Mandir. She did not allow Bhagwan Jagannath to enter the Mandir premises in retaliation for not letting her accompany him to Gundicha Mandir.

Then Bhagwan Jagannath tried to convince her, but she refused to let him in. A tug of war broke out between the servitors representing Maa  Lakshmi and the servitors representing Bhagwan Jagannath in front of the Mandir. The fight concluded when Bhagwan Jagannath confessed his mistakes. Bhagwan Jagannath also assured Maa Lakshmi that he would not repeat it. To pacify Maa Lakshmi Bhagwan Jagannath also offered her Rasagollas. Then Maa  Lakshmi calmed down, accepted his apology, and allowed him to enter Shrimandir. Thereafter, Maa Lakshmi directed to open Jaya-Bijay doors for him.

Taking a clue from the Bhagwan Jagannath and Maa Lakshmi, hundreds of devotees offered Rasagola bhog to deities on Raths before Pahandi and distributed it among the devotees present.

This is the only occasion when Rasagola is offered to the deities. Devotees would get Mahaprasad, known as “Nilachal abhada”.