The word 'Bahuda' in Odia means 'return' as the deities Jagannatha, Baldev, and Subhadra return to Jagannatha return back to Puri on the their chariots. After spending a week inside the Gundicha temple the deities commence their Bahuda Yatra on the 10th day.
During the return journey, the three chariots stop for a while at the Mausima temple also known as Ardhasani Temple this temple is dedicated to the aunt of Lord Jagannatha here, the three deities are offered 'Poda Pitha', a special sweet made up of rice, coconut, lentils, and jaggery.
After taking the Poda Pitha, the three deities resume their journey to the main temple the chariots of Balabhadra and Subhadra are parked at the Lion's gate (Singha dwara) of the temple and Lord Jagannatha's chariot halts in front of the Gajapati King's palace for the divine event 'Laxmi Narayana Bheta'.
Lord Jagannatha is the divine husband of Goddess Mahalaxmi and the Lord did not accompany Mata Laxmi during the Cart Festival to the Gundicha temple so, on the day of Hera Panchami, Mahalaxmi goes to meet Lord Jagannatha and the doors of the Gundicha temple are closed that's why Lord fails to meet Mata Laxmi.
Due to such actions, Maa Laxmi gets angry she instructs her servitors to inform her about Lord Jagannatha's return on Bahuda Yatra when Nandighosa chariot reaches the King's palace her servitors informed about Lord's arrival Mata Laxmi became more anxious to catch a glimpse of the Lord and her servitors take Subarna Laxmi (a representative idol of Goddess Laxmi) in a gorgeously decorated palanquin to the 'Chahani Mandapa' in the local Odia language 'Chahani' means 'glimpse' and 'Mandapa' means 'podium'.
It is a viewing podium situated at the right side of the temple's main gate (Singha Dwara), Goddess Laxmi gets a glimpse of the Lord who parked his chariot in front of the Srinahara (the king's palace) in the Odia language the exchange of an eye to eye look is called 'Chahani Melena'. Goddess Mahalaxmi was portraying her anger but she was also restless to meet her husband her servitors sensed her anxiety and carried a palanquin procession from Chahani Mandapa to the King's palace where the Nandi Ghosa was parked.
In the Hindu tradition, the elder brother shouldn't see younger brother's wife's face if this happens then it is considered inauspicious due to this tradition, when Goddess Laxmi started her journey from Chahani Mandapa, one parada (screen/veil) is put in front of the Taladhwaja chariot (which is Lord Balarama's chariot) so that he cannot see Mahalaxmi during the entire procession.
After the entire procession Lord Jagannatha's chariot Nandighosa is pulled by the devotees from the king's palace and it concludes at the lion's gate of the Jagannatha temple where Lord joins his siblings who eagerly wait for his arrival on the day of the Bahuda Yatra the deities remain in their respective chariots parked in front of the temple for the Suna Vesha.
Photo gallery of Bahuda Yatra -
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