Rath Yatra 2025: Devotees throng Puri Srimandir for Nabajouban Darshan

A day before the Rath Yatra, the pilgrim town of Puri witnessed an overwhelming surge of devotion as thousands of pilgrims gathered for the auspicious Nabajouban Darshan and Netrotsav rituals at the Shree Jagannath Temple on Thursday.
 

According to the temple tradition, following the grand Snana Purnima (bathing festival), the deities are believed to fall ill and are kept away from public view for recovery in the Anasara Ghara. During this time, devotees are unable to have darshan of the deities, creating a deeply felt spiritual absence.

What Is Nabajouban Darshan?

On the day of Nabajouban Darshan, which falls on the new moon day of Ashadha month, the deities are adorned in their youthful forms. As part of the Netrotsav, their eyes are ceremonially restored using natural herbs and traditional paints, symbolising the return of their divine vision and vitality.

The Nabajouban Besha is considered a rare spectacle, where the deities appear fresh, vibrant, and radiant, almost like newly made idols. Devotees believe this form grants special blessings, as it signifies the Lord’s return to wellness and readiness for the forthcoming Rath Yatra.

Notably, the deities do not ascend the Ratna Singhasana (jeweled throne) again after Nabajouban. With the Nabajouban Darshan, the stage is now set for the grand Rath Yatra on June 27, as the Lords prepare to step out of the sanctum and into the streets, blessing millions with their divine presence.