Puri: After a tiring Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha, the holy Trinity was offered a special drink called ‘Adhara Pana’ on their respective gigantic chariots today.
Through large earthen pitchers extending up to the lips of the deities, the special drink was offered as part of the 'Adhara Pana' ritual. The drink was offered after a 'Sodosha Upachar Pooja.'
Called as Adhara pana, it is one of the main attractions during the Puri Rath Yatra and draws lakhs of devotees.
Soon after the offering is made, the earthen pitchers are smashed on the chariots spilling the entire drink on the floor of the chariots.
As per servitors, apart from ‘Parshwadevatas’, several ghostly bodies and souls who trail with the Lords during the Rath Yatra eagerly wait for this moment. It is believed that such evil spirits attain salvation (Mokshya) by drinking the holy drink which is spilled on the chariot decks.
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Officials of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) informed that the deities would remain on the chariots tonight and would enter the sanctum sanctorum of Puri Srimandir tomorrow.
The concluding ritual of the Rath Yatra - the home coming of the deities, is called 'Niladri Bije.'