Bizodisha Bureau, Puri, July 26, 2015 : One person died of asphyxiation on Sunday while he was busy in “Nam Sankirtan” amid rushes of lakhs of people during the return journey festival known as Bahuda Yatra of Lord Jagannath. The victim has been identified as Raj Kishore Swain of Nayagarh.

Braving intermittent heavy rain, lakhs of devotees from across the country thronged the pilgrim town to witness Bahuda Yatra.

The deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Lord Sudarshan and Devi Subhadra – were taken to the chariots after ‘Pahandi’ (ceremonial procession) by the temple servitors from the Gundicha temple.

Bahuda Yatra is the journey of the three chariots of the deities to Sri Jagannath Temple from Sri Gundicha Temple. The three deities were on a nine-day sojourn at Gundicha temple.

Puri Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb solemnized ‘Chhera Pahanra’ (sweeping of chariots) in the afternoon and after that the devotees started pulling the colourfully decorated chariots on the 2.5 km grand road at around 4 p.m.

Elaborate security arrangements had been done for the Bahuda Yatra.

The return of the deities follows the same rituals as performed during the Ratha Yatra.

The deities will remain in their respective chariots parked at Singhadwar (Lion’s gate) in front of the Jagannath temple after the Bahuda Yatra concludes.

On Monday, there will be Sunabessha, golden attire of the deities, on the chariots itself.