Bhubaneswar, July 22: The ceremonial Dakshina Moda (southward turning) of the three majestic Rath Yatra chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra was successfully completed on Wednesday, clearing the way for the upcoming Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the sibling deities from Gundicha Temple to the Shree Jagannath Temple.

The ritual, which began on Tuesday, was disrupted by incessant rainfall that lashed Puri, forcing the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to suspend the turning of two chariots midway. While Devi Subhadra's Darpadalana (Devadalana) chariot was successfully turned and positioned near the Nakachana Dwara of the Gundicha Temple on Tuesday, the Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra and Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath could not be repositioned due to the adverse weather.

With the weather improving on Wednesday morning, servitors resumed the ritual. The Taladhwaja chariot was first turned southward, followed by the successful repositioning of Nandighosa, completing the important pre-Bahuda Yatra ritual.

Officials said a detailed technical inspection of all three chariots will now be carried out to ensure they are fit for the return journey. Despite the completion of the ritual, the chariots remain stationed in waterlogged conditions at Saradhabali because of the continuous rain.

To safeguard the sacred chariots, authorities have strengthened security arrangements by erecting barricades and deploying additional personnel around the area.

The completion of Dakshina Moda marks a significant milestone in the annual Rath Yatra festivities, as devotees now eagerly await the Bahuda Yatra, when the Holy Trinity will begin their journey back to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple, drawing lakhs of pilgrims from across the country.

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