Nabajouban Darshan: Things to know about Lord Jagannath, His Siblings’ youthful Splendour

The holy town of Puri has already started witnessing an overwhelming surge of devotees as the doors of the Srimandir (Jagannath Temple) are all set to open for the sacred Nabajouban Darshan of Lord Jagannath and His sibling deities- Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, on Thursday.

What Is Nabajouban Darshan?

After remaining in seclusion for 14 days to recover from illness, the Holy Trinity of Puri Srimandir, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, reappear before devotees in a radiant, youthful form known as Nabajouban. The auspicious occasion of their first public appearance is celebrated as Nabajouban Darshan, one of the most spiritually significant rituals at the 12th-century Jagannath Temple.

During the period of isolation, known as Anasara, the deities are believed to suffer from fever following the elaborate Snana Yatra (bathing ritual) and are administered traditional Panchakarma treatment by temple servitors. Once they fully recover, a series of intricate and sacred rituals are performed to restore their divine form.

The highlight of this transformation is the ‘Banakalagi’ or ‘Srikumkha Sringara’ ritual, which involves the sacred repainting of the deities. Natural herbal pigments like Hingula (red), Haritala (yellow), Kasturi (musk), Keshara (saffron), and Kaitha (wood apple gum) are used in this ritual. This secret tradition is performed by the temple’s Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors.

Guided by the ancient palm-leaf manuscript Banaka Pothi, which outlines every detail of how the Lords must be adorned, the servitors meticulously paint the eyes, eyebrows, eyelashes, noses, and mouths of the deities. The ritual culminates with the painting of the Lords' eyeballs, marking the completion of their rejuvenation.

The moment the deities emerge in their youthful splendour during Nabajouban Darshan, also known as Netra Utsav, it marks a deeply emotional and spiritual union between the Lords and their countless devotees, setting the stage for the grand Rath Yatra that follows.

Stage Set For Rath Yatra

This darshan also serves as a prelude to the world-famous Rath Yatra, during which the deities will embark on a grand journey to the Gundicha Temple on majestic chariots. The spiritual energy during Nabajouban Darshan sets the tone for the upcoming festivities.