Devotees will have the darshan of the deities on the Snana Mandap (bathing altar) to their heart's content on the auspicious occasion of Snana Purnima this year.
A decision regarding this was taken at the Chhatisha Nijog meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of SJTA Chief Administrator Veer Vikram Yadav at Niladree Bhakta Niwas in Puri on Wednesday.
Since devotees are going to take part in the annual Rath Yatra festival after a gap of two years, this year’s festivals like Snana Purnima and Rath Yatra have assumed much importance. Keeping this in view, the meeting primarily discussed how the rituals can be observed in a discipline manner and how devotees can have a hassle free darshan of the deities.
The meeting also discussed rituals like ‘Rajendrabhisheka’, ‘Rukmani Haran Ekadashi’, ‘Champak Ekadashi’, ‘Daitapati Pravesh’, ‘Senapata Lagi’, ‘Debasnana Purnima’, ‘Chakabije’, ‘Khalilagi Ekadashi’, ‘Rajaprasad Bije’, ‘Naba Jauwan Darshan’and ‘Gundicha Yatra’ and their time tables.
While informing journalists about the outcome of the meeting, secretary of Daitapati Nijog, Ramkrushna Das Mohaptra said, “Devotees were not able to have a heart content darshan of their lords due to the pandemic. This year, they are going to have it. There will be Parimanik (paid) darshan, allowing devotees to have darshan of the Trinity’s ‘Hati Besha’ atop the bathing altar for three to five hours. Besides, they can go around the bathing altar as well.”
“Our main focus is on smooth conduct of Rath Yatra and to ensure a hassle free darshan of the Lords by the devotees,” said SJTA Chief Administrator Veer Vikram Yadav.
Among others, Puri district Collector Samarth Verma, SP Kanwar Vishal Singh, SJTA officials and members of Chhatisha Nijog took part in the meeting.
Notably, public darshan of the deities at Srimandir will be suspended from 4 pm to 8 pm today for the ‘Banakalagi Niti’ of the deities.