Festival and celebrations

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Puri, June 29: The sacred Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannath was observed with traditional religious fervour and grandeur in Puri on Monday, marking one of the most significant rituals in the annual calendar of the Jagannath Temple. Thousands of devotees from across the country gathered in the holy city to witness the auspicious ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the occasion of Deba Snana Purnima.

As per centuries-old traditions, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were ceremoniously brought out from the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple in a grand procession and placed on the sacred Snana Bedi, the bathing platform specially prepared for the occasion. Devotees were allowed to have the rare and divine darshan of the deities during the ritual, making the occasion one of the most awaited festivals for followers of Lord Jagannath.

The ceremonial bathing ritual was performed in strict accordance with ancient temple customs. Water drawn from the sacred temple well was first purified through the chanting of Vedic mantras before being used for the ritual. A total of 108 sacred pots filled with sanctified water were poured over the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra in an elaborate religious ceremony conducted by temple priests amid continuous recitation of hymns and devotional chants.

The completion of the holy bath, the deities were adorned in the famous 'Gaja Besha' or Elephant Attire, one of the most revered and visually magnificent forms of decoration in the Jagannath tradition. The unique attire attracts thousands of devotees every year, who believe that having darshan of the Lord in this divine form brings immense spiritual blessings and frees devotees from their sins.

Long-standing religious belief, witnessing the Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannath is considered highly auspicious and is believed to grant salvation and liberation from past sins. The festival therefore holds immense spiritual significance for millions of devotees who travel to Puri every year to participate in the sacred celebrations.

The conclusion of the Snana Yatra, the annual ritual known as 'Anasara' begins. According to temple tradition, Lord Jagannath is believed to fall ill after the ceremonial bath due to the large quantity of water used during the ritual. During this period, the deities remain away from public view in a secluded chamber inside the temple, where they are symbolically treated and cared for by the temple servitors. This period of seclusion lasts for a fortnight, during which devotees are unable to have darshan of the deities. The Lord will reappear before devotees during the grand Nabajouban Darshan, shortly before the world-famous Rath Yatra, marking the completion of the Anasara period and the beginning of another major chapter in the annual religious festivities of Puri.