By Rajkumar Mohanty
Puri(Odisha), July 16; The Daita servitors escorted Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Jagannath temple in Pahandi procession late on Wednesday night after offering of rasagulla bhog to the deities on their respective chariots.

Devotees also offered hundreds of quintals of rasagullas to the deities. This is the only occasion when rasagulla is offered to the deities every year.

The deities, who were on a nine day sojourn to the Gundicha temple, had returned to the main temple gate area and spent a couple of nights on the chariots before they were escorted to the main temple.

The priests performed daily chores of the deities on the chariots beginning with Mangala Arati, Abakash, Mailam, and dressed the deities for public appearance. On this day the deities were offered only fruits as Bhog. The devotees were allowed to embrace the lords on the chariots.

In the evening, the servitors fix the traditional ladders to the three chariots and then Daita servitors begin the Pahandi starting with Balabhadra the elder followed by sister Subhadra.

Jai Jagannath, Haribol and religious hymns rented the air while devotees were charmed witnessing the ceremonial Pahandi procession of the deities amid display of fireworks.

Mahalaxmi, the consort of Lord Jagannath, was angry as she was left behind in the Yatra. She keeps a close vigil on Pahandi procession of Lord Jagannath. She orders closure of the temple main gate for the Lord after allowing the Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra's Pahandi procession. The servitors of Mahalaxmi and Jagannath enact a play on the occasion exchanging the dialogues from both sides.

The Lord of the universe then tenders an apology and persuades Mahalaxmi with offering of tasty Rasagullas. Finally she allows the Lord to get in.

After the deities adorned their seats on the Ratnasimhasana the role of the Daitas came to end. The regular priests then take over and perform normal daily rituals with observance of Mahasnan (the grand bath) of the deities.

Lakhs of devotees would taste Mahaprasad known as Nilachal Abhada on Thursday. The ritual is popularly called Niladri Bije.