PURI: The three towering chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were pulled from the Ratha Khala (construction yard) and parked in front of the Simhadwara of the temple, facing east on Friday.
The chariots in which the Trinity would visit their aunt’s place for an annual nine-day sojourn on Saturday, have been decked up with flowers of various hues.
The rituals for Rath Yatra will begin with Mangal Arati at 6 am followed by Rosahoma at 6.30 am, Abakash by 7 am, Surya Puja at 7.30 am and the Lords would be offered Khichidi Bhog at 8 am in the sanctum sanctorum. At the same time, the temple Purohit would consecrate the three massive chariots which have been parked outside the Lions’ Gate of the temple.
The ceremonial ‘Pahandi’ of the deities will start at 10 am and would be completed by 1 pm. After another set of nitees, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, the foremost servitor of the Trinity, would perform the Chherapahanra. The ritual, which entails sweeping of chariots with a golden broom, will begin at 2 pm and end at 3 pm.
Thereafter, servitors would disengage the ladders and fix wooden horses to the three chariots. At 3.30 pm, devotees will begin pulling the chariots. While Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra will roll on the Grand Road, venue of the fete, first, Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra would trail. Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosha, the largest of the three chariots, will move after the two.