Puri: Lakhs of devotees drawn here from across Odisha witnessed the Pahandi (procession) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan to the bathing altar (Snana Mandap) in Puri Thursday.
One of the special and sacred festivals of Lord Jagannath held on the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha is the ‘Devasnan Purnima’ or ‘Snana Yatra’. According to Skanda Purana, when King Indradyumna installed the wooden deities, he arranged this bathing ceremony.
The rituals started Wednesday. Daitapati servitors began the bathing rituals of the Lords with the Senapata Lagi at 10 am and the ritual was completed at 2.15 pm. This was followed by the Shrimukha Khandua ritual at 12.30am, and the Bahutakanta at 1.10 am Thursday. The Mangalarpana rituals were conducted at 5 am.
The Pahandi of the Lords to the Snana Mandap began at 5.30 am after the servitors performed the Dora Lagi and Pushpanjali rituals. The Pahandi rituals were completed at 8. 40 am.
The bathing rituals of the Lords would be performed between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm after the Mangala Alati, Mailam Lagi, Tadapa Lagi, Adharapochha, Abakasha Niti, Rosha Homa, Surya Puja and Dwarapala Puja rituals.
The Snana Mandapa is situated to the north-east of Ananda Bazar and close to the outer wall of the temple called Meghanada Pacheri. The Snana Mandap is at such a height that visitors standing outside the temple also get a glimpse of the deities.
On this auspicious day, the Suaras and Mahasuaras go in a ceremonial procession to fetch 108 pots of water from the Golden well (called ‘Suna Kua’) near the Goddess Shitala temple at the Uttaradwara (north gate) inside the temple. The holy water is drawn from this well once in a year.
During the entire process, all of them cover their mouths with a piece of cloth so as not to contaminate it even with their breath. Then all the pots filled with water are preserved in the ‘Bhoga Mandap’.
The priests purify the water with Haladi (turmeric), Java (whole rice), Sandal (Chandan), flowers and perfumes. The rituals are accompanied by chanting of vedic mantras by the priests, kirtana and blowing of conch shells.
Out of the 108 pitchers of water, Lord Jagannath would take bath with 35 pitchers of water, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with 33 pitchers and 22 pitchers respectively while Lord Sudarshan will take bath with 18 pitchers of water.
After the completion of the bathing rituals, the servitors would perform the Mailam Lagi, Mekapa Sarbanga and Nua Lagi Besha rituals which will be completed at 2.30pm.
The Lords would be adorned with the Hati Besha (elephant attire) at 4pm after the Chhera Panhara (cleaning) of the Mandap by the Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb at 3.30pm.
The duration of the Hati Besha of the Lords for the devotees is for one hour — from 4pm to 5pm, after which the Mahanta Sadhibandha Niti will be performed at 5.30pm. The Ghanta Chhata and Sakala Dhupa rituals will be held between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
The Sahana Mela darshan of the Lords will continue for two hours from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, which will be followed by the Pushpanjali and Dora Lagi rituals at 10pm.
The Bahuda Pahandi of the Lords will begin at 10.30pm till 1.30am after which the servitors would perform Sunachita and Rahurekha Mailam Niti at 2am.
After the Snana Yatra, the deities are kept away from public view for 15 days. During all these days, the daily rites of the temple remain suspended.
For the smooth conduct of the festival, the district administration has made elaborate security arrangements with the deployment of 42 platoons of force and 250 police officers.
In order to facilitate smooth darshan of the Lords, barricades have been put up in front of the Simhadwara of the temple. For the Sahana Mela darshan of the Lords, the devotees will enter the temple through the Simhadwara and exit through the Uttaradwara.