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 Hera Gouri Sahi, a side road inhabited mostly by Jagannatha’s priests. As Laksmi-devi moved down the road in her palanquin she halted in front of each brahmin’s house to accept quality bhoga offerings and worship. The palanquin carriers collected all the offerings in a large basket and sold later as Laksmi-devi’s maha-prasadam. Between two and three a.m., Laksmi-devi finally returned to the Mandira and took rest.
Meanwhile, immersed in the joy of His vraja-lila, Jagannatha Swami forgot all about Laksmi-devi. Four days later, Jagannatha Swami, Baladeva and Subhadra rode Their chariots back to Sri Mandira. Laksmi-devi, still fuming over Jagannatha’s absence, locked the temple doors out of defiance. Jagannatha Swami was stuck outside; locked out of His own home by an infuriated wife. The servants of Laksmi and Jagannatha shouted bad names at each other and shoved each other back and forth.
Finally Jagannatha Swami made peace with His wife. Laksmi showed her forgiveness by offering Him a huge bowl of big juicy, sweet rasagullas. Later Laksmi-devi happily relished Jagannatha’s remnants, distributed some to her maidservants, and then opened the door to welcome Jagannatha Swami back to His temple.
Sri Laksmi-devi’s Hera Pancami Utsava ki jai!
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