Hera Panchami 2025: Date, Time, Significance And Rituals Of This Sacred Event During Jagannath Rath Yatra

Check out all the significant details about the date, time, significance and rituals of this sacred event below:

Hera Panchami 2025: Date And Time

- Hera Panchami 2025 Date: 1st July 2025

- Hera Panchami 2025 Day: Tuesday 

Hera Panchami 2025: Significance

The word “Hera” means “to see,” and “Panchami” refers to the fifth day. On this emotionally charged day during the Rath Yatra, Goddess Lakshmi, the devoted consort of Lord Jagannath, begins to worry. Her husband has been away at Gundicha Temple for five days, and she feels overlooked and anxious. He had assured her he’d return soon after a short journey, but as the days pass, she begins to wonder what’s keeping him. Tired and restless after waiting, she decides to go and see him herself, driven by love, concern, and perhaps a little frustration.

As she reaches Gundicha Temple, the main doors are suddenly shut in her face, adding to her sorrow. Hurt and disappointed, she returns to the main temple quietly through Hera Gohri Sahi. But before leaving, she breaks a small part of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandighosa, as a sign of her feelings.

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Hera Panchami commemorates the sacred leela between goddess Lakshmi and her husband Lord Jagannath on the fifth day of Rath Yatra festivities. (Image Source: Canva) 

Hera Panchami 2025: Rituals

When Lord Jagannath and his siblings leave the Shrimandir for their nine-day journey to Gundicha Temple, he promises Goddess Lakshmi he’ll return the next day. But four days pass, and he doesn’t come back. Feeling restless and longing for her beloved, Lakshmi decides to visit him on the fifth day. Before setting off, she seeks guidance from Bimala Devi near the shrine. Understanding her pain, Bimala Devi gives her Moha Churna—a mystical powder meant to gently hypnotise Lord Jagannath and bring him back without delay.

Lakshmi sets out in a beautifully adorned palanquin, accompanied by temple servitors. Along the way, they sing the Hera Panchami song, expressing her sorrow and frustration. As her palanquin stops near the Lord’s chariot, she’s welcomed with ceremonial offerings. In the evening, she enters Gundicha Temple after the Sandhya Dhupa, but doesn’t see Jagannath. Under the charm of Moha Churna, the Pati Mahapatra offers her an Agyan Mala, a garland of consent from the Lord, promising his return in three days.

ALSO READ: Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: How Long Does Lord Jagannath Stay At Gundicha Temple? All You Need To Know About This Ritual

This begins the return journey, or Bahuda Yatra. The next day, the chariots turn south towards Nakachana Dwara in a ritual called Dakshina Moda. Lakshmi halts near the Nandighosha chariot, still hurt for not seeing her Lord. She orders her attendants to break a small part of the chariot, expressing her quiet anger. Then, she quietly slips away through the secret path of Hera Gohri Sahi, leaving behind a symbol of longing and love.

This moving ritual reflects the deep and inseparable bond between Lord Jagannath and Goddess Lakshmi. The main temple, Srimandir, itself carries her name—‘Sri’ symbolising Lakshmi, the divine feminine energy or Maya Shakti. Vaishnavas always worship them as one, believing they are never truly apart. Scriptures describe Lakshmi as an eternal part of Jagannath’s presence, called Nilachalabasini and Shobhasalini, even likened to a jewel in his ornament. And yet, during Rath Yatra, their brief separation reminds us that even distance can deepen divine love.

(Disclaimer: This content includes advice providing generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified spiritual or astrological opinion. Always consult a specialist for more information before adopting any measures.)