Suryakant Jena

Puri: Devotees in the pilgrim town are all set to bask in festivities of the week-long Jhulan Jatra (Swing Festival) of Lord Jagannath that commenced here today.

The much awaited festival begins on the 10th day of the new moon of Shravan month and continues for seven days till the Pratipada.

“Each day after the Madhyana Dhupa, a beautifully decorated swing with silver and golden embellishments is put on the Mukti Mandap , also called the Jhulan Mandap. After the Sandhya Arati the divine permission or the Agyan Mala is sought from Lord Jagannath following which the Mahajana Pushpajana servitors place Lord Madan Mohan- the representative of Lord Jagannath, Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati on the swings,” Culture expert Naresh Dash explained.

Several monasteries (mutts) like Jagannath Ballav Matha also celebrate the auspicious occasion marking the revelry of Lord Krishna with Radha and other gopis.

Jhulan Jatra is one of the 32 ‘upajatras’ of Lord Jagannath celebrated not only in the Srimandir but throughout other temples in the holy town and other parts of the state.

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