Lakhs of devotees flocked to Puri in Odisha to witness the sacred ‘Snana Purnima’ ritual where Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are bathed at the Jagannath temple. This event marks the prelude to the upcoming Rath Yatra scheduled for July 16. The deities were ceremonially brought to the bathing platform ‘Snana Vedi’ amidst traditional musical accompaniments early on Monday.
The holy trio is set to be bathed with 108 pitchers of fragrant water from the ‘Sunakua’ or ‘Golden Well’ by the temple servitors between noon and 2 p.m. Following the bath, the deities will be adorned with elephant masks called ‘Gajanana Besha’ before being placed in the isolation room ‘Anasaragruha’. It is believed that the deities fall ill post-bathing and are accessible only to specific servitors during this time.
After a period of seclusion, the idols reappear in a new form known as “Naba Jaubana Darshana”. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Puri on Snana Purnima, offering prayers to Lord Jagannath at the bathing altar. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, he prayed for global well-being, prosperity in Odisha, and the successful organization of the upcoming Ratha Yatra festival.
Inspecting the chariot construction for the Rath Yatra, CM Majhi ensured preparations were in order. Puri Police have implemented extensive crowd management measures to maintain order and safety during the Snana Yatra festival. A significant police presence, including Commandants, SPs, DSPs, and a large number of personnel, has been deployed for the smooth execution of the event.
