The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.307

v2.c17.s1.307

[ 133 ] The gods remain in the summer-house for four or five days and on the 10th of the moon begin their return journey ( Bāhurā ), coming out by the Vijayadvāra. The journey is not completed until the 14th or the 15th day. The slowness of the return journey is caused by the paucity of pilgrims, most of whom leave Puri immediately after the first procession, and the road being generally rendered difficult by heavy rains which set in about that time. On the day the cars arive before the Great Temple, Lakṣmī is brought out from her mansion and placed in a pavilion ( Plate LI, No. 58 ) on the road-side to welcome her lord and escort him home. When the cars arrive at the Lion Gate, a rite is performed on the cars to celebrate the return and the 're-conquest of the Blue Hill', whence its name Nilādrivijaya. This over, the Daityas carry the images to their sancturary in the same way in which they bring them out. After placing them on their throne certain lustrations are performed by the priests to remove the defilement to which they are subjected while in the car by the touch of people of all classes and castes who drag the vehicles.