Kendrapara: Debasnana Purnima was observed at the Baladevjew Temple of Tulashi Khetra, the abode of the elder brother of Jagannath, Thursday with great pomp and devotion. Thousands of people thronged Tulashi Khetra to witness the Mahasnana Utsav, the bathing ceremony of the Lord at Tulashi Khetra.
The sebayats and priests early Thursday morning brought the deities from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snana Mandap by organising a ‘dhadi pahandi’ and later the sebayats organised ‘Mangala Arati’, ‘Niti Snana’, ‘Balav Manohi’ and poured 108 pots of scented sandalwood water on the deities’ feet to complete the bathing of Lord Baladevjew, Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
During the deities’ bathing rituals at the Shrikhetra, sebayats generally pour 108 pots of scented water on the heads of the three deities, but here at the abode of Baladevjew, the sebayats poured water on the feet. Later, the Gajanana Vesha was organised at the Snana Mandap.
It is believed that on Debasnana Purnima day, Lord Baladev takes stock of the progress of the Brahma Taladhwaj chariot, the state’s largest chariot, from the Snana Mandap. The age-old practice of worshipping the two newly constructed wheels along with an axle of the chariot was organised in front of the temple on Debasnana Purnima in the evening in front of the temple.
The deities pahandi to anasara ghar is scheduled to be organised at 9 pm. Police deployment was beefed up on the temple’s premises to complete the festivities without untoward incidents.