Puri, July 9(Newshub Desk): The iconic Rath Yatra 2025 reached its spiritual crescendo on Tuesday with the observance of Niladri Bije, the ceremonial homecoming of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan to the sanctum sanctorum of the Shri Jagannath Temple.
The day was steeped in sacred rituals and cultural symbolism, beginning at 6:50 AM with Mangal Alati and concluding late in the night with the Goti Pahandi procession.
Each deity was ceremoniously ushered back to the temple—Lord Jagannath last, following Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra.
The highlight of the day was the Rasagola offering, a centuries-old tradition where Lord Jagannath offers the iconic sweet to appease Goddess Lakshmi.
A symbolic exchange known as Bachanika unfolded at the Jaya Bijaya Dwara, narrating the divine reconciliation through ritualized drama.
At the Bheta Mandap, constructed during King Dibya Singha Deba’s reign (1677–1716), devotees witnessed the symbolic reunion, blending myth with historical reverence.
The ritual also marked the resumption of Mahaprasad at Anandabazar. Devotees once again accessed the Chhappan Bhog, a sacred 56-item meal prepared under Goddess Mahalaxmi’s divine supervision, ending the Yatra’s dry-offering period.
Since 2016, this day has also been celebrated as Rasagola Dibasa, spotlighting Odisha’s claim to the sweet’s origin—an assertion strengthened by the GI tag awarded in 2019.
The culmination of Niladri Bije not only concluded the grand Rath Yatra but also reaffirmed Odisha’s enduring cultural and spiritual heritage, making Puri resonate as a global hub of devotion and divine storytelling.
