Puri, July 7: The Pahandi Bije of the Holy Trinity -- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra -- is underway here. Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra have already mounted their chariots -- Taladhwaja and Darpadalana, respectively.

Amidst the chants of 'Jai Jagannath' along with the beating of gongs, cymbals and blowing of conches by a special group of servitors, Lord Jagannath was taken to his chariot -- Nandighosa.

The Pahandi Bije -- from the procession of the deities to mounting on the chariots -- is one of the most significant rituals of the Rath Yatra. Lakhs of devotees wait to have a glimpse of the rare ritual of the holy trinity.

The procession is called 'Dhadi Pahandi' (procession in a line), where the deities are carried in a grand procession one after the other in close succession from the sanctum sanctorum of the Srimandir to their respective chariots.

The Pahandi Bije ritual begins with Lord Sudarshan, the main weapon of Lord Vishnu - an incarnation of Lord Jagannath -- being taken in a ceremonial procession followed by the procession of the deities in a specific order -- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and finally Lord Jagannath. 

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