‘Adharapana’ ritual of Lord Jagannath, siblings today

Puri: The ‘Adharapana’ ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will be performed today.

As per the ritual, the deities will be offered ‘Pana’, a specially prepared drink, in pots on their respective chariots. Mahasuara servitors prepare the drink by using milk, banana, cheese, aromatic spices and water.

The water required to prepare the drink is collected by Pania Apat servitors from a well on the premises of Chhauni mutt near the Singhadwara.

After serving it to the deities, the servitors break the pots allowing the ‘pana’ to spill over the chariots. It is believed that evil spirits who roam around the chariots for salvation enjoy the drink and leave the spot.

On Friday, devotees in large numbers thronged the pilgrim town to witness the ‘Suna Besa’ of the trinity in which 138 types of gold ornaments weighing over two quintals were used for the besa of the deities.