Mahanidhi Swami (Official)
Hera Pancami Festival—An Eyewitness Account
The following entry comes from my year 2000 diary, when I attended the Hera Pancami festival in Jagannatha Puri which took place late at night during ratri-kala (10:48 p.m.-3:36 a.m.). Laksmi-devi rode on a palanquin from Sri Mandira to Gundica Mandira to ask Jagannatha Swami why He had not returned yet. Seeing Laksmi-devi coming down the street with an angry look in her eyes, Jagannatha Swami quickly locked her out of the Gundica Mandira.
Laksmi-devi became furious at this and passed some sarcastic remarks (voiced by the pujaris) saying, “Hey Pati (husband)! You have become more attracted to Your sister Subhadra than me? Is that why You locked me out of the Gundica?” Laksmi-devi’s maidservants (the pujaris carrying her) feel insulted and express their anger by breaking off some wood from Lord Jagannatha’s chariot.
Laksmi-devi avoided the direct route via Grand Road, and returned to the Jagannatha Mandira via Her
