Adhara Pana ritual of Lord Jagannath, His siblings in Puri today; know its significance

The traditional Adhara Pana ritual of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be conducted on Monday on the Bada Danda or the Grand Road in Puri. 

Observed on Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi, the ritual takes place a day after the Suna Besha and just before Niladri Bije, marking one of the final ceremonies of the annual Rath Yatra.

Sweet Offering Prepared by Mahasuara Servitors

As part of the ritual, each of the deities seated on their chariots is offered ‘Pana’, a sweet drink prepared by Mahasuara servitors. The drink is made using milk, banana, chhena (cheese), camphor, nutmeg, black pepper, and water. It is poured into large cylindrical earthen pots and placed before each deity on their respective chariots.

Drink Reserved for Divine Beings

A total of nine pots of pana are prepared for each chariot. Once the offering is made, servitors purposefully break the pots, allowing the drink to spill over the chariot platforms. This is done with the clear belief that the drink is not meant for human consumption. No devotee is allowed to taste it.

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Ritual for Subsidiary Deities and Wandering Spirits

The offering is believed to satisfy the subsidiary deities who guard the Trinity during their journey, as well as non-bodied entities like spirits and dissatisfied souls who are said to wander around the chariots seeking liberation. The Adhara Pana is considered a sacred act to appease these beings and grant them salvation.

Ritual Timings

The Adhara Pana ritual will begin at 4:30 PM and conclude at 8:30 PM today. On Tuesday, the Niladri Bije ceremony will take place, marking the return of the deities to the sanctum sanctorum of the Srimandir, where they will be seated on the Ratna Singhasana.