Shree Jagannath was more established as Shree Ram by saint Tulasi Das. Like that of all religious scholars who visited the temple of Shree Jagannath at Puri, saint Tulasi Das also visited and saw Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra on the grand throne. Saint Tulasi Das, an ardent devotee of Shree Ram, was disappointed not to see Sri Ram on the grand throne of the Grand Temple at Puri. Later, he was astonished to see Ram in Lord Jagannath, Shree Laxman in Lord Balabhadra and Sita in Goddess Subhadra. Hence, he immediately accepted Lord Jagannath as Shree Ram. In his famous writing, he has also expressed in Hindi ;
“Johi Rama Sohi Jagadisha,
Dina Hi Ke Antana
Pabata Shesa, “Shesa Bhaya Lachhiman
Anuchari, Bhadra So Siya Rajkumari“
(The gist of the above is, “He is Ram, Who is Jagannath”.
taking the above writing of saint
Tulasi Dash, the devotees of Shree Ram all over India accept Shri Jagannath as Shree Ram.)
After Rabana Badha, Bibhisana want to present in Rama Abisekha but Shri Ram deny and told if you go with me then some demon come with you . May they fight with innocents. So You come alone dressed as Brahman three times in year and legend follows below.
Legend associate with Bibhisana, that he come to Utkal ( Odisha ) 3 times in a year. The 1st day is Hindu Tithi Shukla Saptami of Magha Masa. Belief is that King Bibhishan come to Odisha on tithi of Magha Shukla Saptami, take holy deep on the River Prachi, take Darshan of Rameswar. The next tithi Of Baisakha Shukla Trutiya, celebration day Of Akhaya Trutia, King Bibhishana take holy dip on Prachi River, Go Titha and take Darshan of Shri Amareswar.. The next tithi is Shukla Dasami of Ashada Masa, the celebration of Bahuda, king Bhibiana dressed as Brahman take the Darshan of Lord Jagannath on chariot.
From this two legend we come to know that Shri Jagannath is Shri Ram..
The festival begins with the celebration of the birth of Shri Rama on the 9th day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra Masa and continues for some days ( nine days ) . Rama Lila ( Sahi Jatra ) is performed in which different sahis or localities in the town participate. During the birth month of Shree Ram i.e., Chaitra, for 9 to 10 days, processions with idol of Shree Ram, Laxman and Sita are organized in different areas of Puri. Specifically, idols of Parsuram from Harachandi Sahi, Ravana from Balisahi, Maya Ravana from Dola Mandap Sahi are organized with pump and ceremony.
