In service of the Lord: 21-day-old baby Daitapati takes part in Anasara rituals of Trinity in Puri

A 21-day-old baby was blessed to be introduced as the ‘Daitapati’ servitor of Lord Jagannath during secret Anasara rituals at Srimandir in Puri on Thursday.

The little Daitapati has been identified as Balabhadra Das Mohapatra.

As per the age-old tradition continuing at the Jagannath temple in Puri, Daitapati servitor Jagdish Das Mohapatra offered his newborn baby Balabhadra to Lord Jagannath.

Everyone in the Daitapati family engages themselves in service of deities to conduct all the secret rituals of the Holy Trinity during Anasara. As per the ritual, the youngest member of the Daitapati families are introduced into the service of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra during ‘Anasara’ period after 21 days of their birth.

Jagdish took his son Balabhadra attired in ‘Pata Bastra’ to the pedestal of ‘Anasara’ house amid the chanting of ‘Veda Mantras’ to offer him in the lords’ service.

“Balabhadra was introduced as the servitor of Lord Jagannath by following the ritual during ‘Anasara’ period. He is born for this purpose. We don’t learn the rituals of offering service to Lord Jagannath from anybody. We just follow our ancestors and learn all the rituals as part of the tradition,” said Daitapati servitor, Jagdish Das Mohapatra.

“After 21 days, the little one surrenders before the Lord during Anasara period. He offers some gifts to the Lord to be introduced as the new servitor. The baby will follow elders to learn all the secret rituals gradually,” said senior Daitapati servitor, Binayak Das Mohapatra.