Marking the beginning of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra, the Snana Purnima rituals started in Puri amidst tight security on Saturday. Held on the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha, Snana Purnima carries lots of significance for Odias. The Sibling deities, once placed on the bathing platform, are bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water. After the holy bath, deities are decked up in Gajanana Besha. The Snana Yatra culminates after the Lords are taken to the 'Anasara Ghara' on Pahandi. Soon after the ceremonial bath, the deities fall sick and go into 15-day quarantine. After a full fortnight of rest, they reappear to the public (Netrotsav) a day before Srigundicha—the first day of Rath Yatra.
The ceremonial bath of the Holy Trinity was performed at 'Snana Mandap' in Puri today. The ‘Jalabhishek’ ritual was performed amid chanting of Vedic mantras, kirtan, beating of gongs and blowing of conch shells.
108 pitchers of fragrant divine water brought from the 'Golden Well' used to perform bathing rituals of the Holy Trinity- 35 pots of water for Lord Jagannath, 33 pots for Lord Balabhadra, 22 for Devi Subhadra and 18 pots of water for Lord Sudarshan.
Watch servitors bringing divine water from ‘Suna Kua’ near the north gate of Puri Srimandir. The importance of this well is that its water is used only once a year on Snana Yatra. Servitors follow an age-old tradition of covering their mouths with a piece of cloth so that the water won't get contaminated even with their breath.
Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, is unique for more reasons than one. This grand temple is also known for the rituals and festivals observed all throughout the year.
Even though more than 56 festivals are observed in Srimandir, there are 12 important ones. Out of these important festivals, Deva Snana Purnima or Snana Yatra is one of them.
Like us, Lord Jagannath also brushes teeth, consumes food and retires for the day after dinner. He also suffers from a fever.
Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra fall sick after they are bathed with 108 pitchers of water on ‘Snana Yatra’ or the ‘Deva Snana Purnima’ day, which falls on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of the Jyestha.
Of the 12 main festivals observed in Srimandir all throughout the year, ‘Snana Yatra’ or the ‘Deva Snana Purnima’ is one of them.
This festival is observed on the full moon day of the month of Jyestha. The importance of this festival lies in two facts. First, it is believed to be the birthday of Lord Jagannath. Second, this is the first occasion when the Holy Trinity is taken out of the sanctum sanctorum. The deities are taken out in a traditional procession called ‘Dhadi Pahandi’ from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snana bedi or the bathing altar, located in the northeast corner of the Bahara Bedha.
'Snana Purnima': Lord Jagannath & His Siblings' 'Pahandi' rituals begin. 'Pahandi Bije' of the Holy Trinity- The Holy Trinity will be taken to the 'Snana Mandap' in ritualistic 'Pahandi' for the grand bathing rituals
The police administration has made an elaborate arrangement for the Deva Snana Purnima, which is falling on June 22. Read More...
Newly elected Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday chaired a review meeting on the preparedness ahead of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra and Snana Purnima in Puri. This year, the nine-day-long world-famous yatra of the Holy Trinity will be held on July 7. Read More...