Puri Jagannath temple: Dhwaja Bandha ritual timing changed for New Year

The Jagannath Temple administration in Puri revised the timing for Dhwaja Bandha ritual on Sunday in view of the New Year celebrations. The ritual, which is usually held at around 5.00 PM, will now conclude by 3.00 PM.

Also Read: Puri Jagannath temple: Appeal made not to keep deities awake at New Year eve midnight

The change in timing was implemented considering the huge crowds visiting the temple for New Year festivities. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator, Arabinda Padhee, issued the directive to ensure smooth management of Darshan and avoid overcrowding.

This adjustment is part of broader measures by the temple authorities to maintain order and facilitate devotees’ Darshan while observing all traditional rituals.

Worth mentioning, a Jagannath Temple managing committee member has appealed earlier in the day against the recent practice of keeping Lord Jagannath and His siblings awake on the eve of the New Year by keeping open the Holy shrine (for performing Dwarafita ritual) early at midnight, calling it inconsistent with Sanatan Hindu traditions.

Mahesh Sahu, a member of the Shree Jagannath Temple managing committee, has written to Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, and Srimandir Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, raising objections to the practice.

In his letter, Sahu emphasised that Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of Sanatan Hindus and that all rituals at the 12th-century Vaishnavite shrine are traditionally conducted strictly according to ancient Hindu scriptures and the temple traditions.

“What the managing committee member has written is apt and justified. January 1 is not our New Year's Day; rather, our New Year falls on April 14 every year. Opening the temple at midnight shortly after the performance of Pahuda ritual is against the temple traditions, which must be stopped. We should not keep the Holy Trinity awake at night,” senior Sevayat (servitor) of the temple, Binayak Dasmohapatra, said to OTV when contacted.