Niladri Bije: The Homecoming of Sibling Deities

Puri: Today is the auspicious day of Niladri Bije – the special day when the three deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra along with Lord Sudarshan return to their abode – the Srimandir after their sojourn to the GundichaTemple. This is the last phase of the most revered Gundicha Yatra when the four deities return to the Ratnabedi in a ceremonial procession on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Aasadha month.
On the day of the Niladri Bije, after the Sandhya Dhupa is performed by the servitors and charamalas are fixed to the three chariots, Mudiratha Sevakas offer Puspanjali to the deities on the three chariots of Taladhwaja, Nandighosha and Darpadalana respectively and complete the Doralagi ritual. Kahalia Sevakas blow the wind-instrument to start the ceremonial Pahandi procession of the deities. The Pahandi niti will be held between 4 pm and 9 pm.

One of the important events of this day is the traditional offering of Rasagola by Lord Jagannath to Goddess Laxmi. According to legend, Lord Jagannath offers Rasagola to pacify Goddess Laxmi, who is upset for not being taken with the trinity to the Gundicha Temple. She refuses Lord Jagannath to let Him in but Lord Jagannath offers the Rasagola to appease the Goddess. This is also known as the Laxmi Narayana Bheta. It is only on this day of Niladri Bije that Rasagollas are offered to the deities in the Shree Mandira. This day is also celebrated as the Rasagola Day in India.

The deities are enthroned on the Ratna Sighasana and the Daitas and Patimahapatra offer sandal paste to the deities. The Kothasuansia servitors remove charamala from the Ratnabedi. In this way, the Niladri Bije celebrations come to an end.

With this the grand Ratha Yatra, will come to an end in which millions of people participated and had the blessings of the trinity. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has greeted all on the occasion of the Niladri Bije.

ନବଦିନାତ୍ମକ ଲୀଳା ସାରି ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତି ନୀଳାଦ୍ରୀବିଜେ କରିବେ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ରସଗୋଲା ଦେଇ ମା’ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀଙ୍କ ମାନଭଞ୍ଜନ କରି ଭାଇଭଉଣୀଙ୍କ ସହ ରତ୍ନବେଦୀକୁ ଯିବେ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଏହି ମାନବୀୟ ଲୀଳା ହିଁ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ଅନନ୍ୟ ପରିଚୟ। ଏହା ହିଁ ଆମ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ସ୍ଵତନ୍ତ୍ରତା। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ। ?#RasagolaDibasa pic.twitter.com/e2TUy7MCRJ

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 12, 2022