By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR:”Rath Yatra” is an important festival in the cultural and religious tradition of Odisha. *Hera Panchami* is celebrated on the fifth day of Rath Yatra, which is a unique picture of the pride and love of Lord Jagannath and Maa Mahalakshmi.
During Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan leave the temple and travel to the Gundicha temple. Maa Mahalakshmi is not taken along on this journey, which is the main reason for her pride. According to the myth, Mahalakshmi, angry with this neglect, went to the Gundicha temple and broke Jagannath’s chariot (Nandighosha) in pride. This is the main principle of *Hera Panchami*, the proud form of the goddess is beautifully depicted. Mahalakshmi is the main goddess of the temple and the consort of Jagannath. Her proud form is a symbol of human emotion.
This shows that even divine powers can display human qualities like love, pride, anger and affection. Mahalakshmi’s pride in Hera Panchami is not just anger, but an expression of her deep love and devotion. Her devotion to Jagannath is so deep that his neglect becomes unbearable for her.
This pride is a beautiful example of affection and self-respect in human relationships. This form of Mahalakshmi is accepted as a symbol of self-respect and respect for women in Odia culture. It shows that pride in love is a natural emotion, which further strengthens the relationship. Which connects the devotees spiritually and culturally. After this, she visits the Jagmohan of the Gundicha temple, where she has darshan of Jagannath. This is considered a symbol of self-respect and freedom of women in the society.
