Rath Yatra: Holy Trinity gets 'phuluri' oil treatment in Anasara chamber

Puri: The Holy Trinity of Lord Balabhadra, Jagannath & Devi Subhadra who are battling strong fever after their customary bathing ritual on the Snana Purnima, received a special herbal oil treatment today as part of their recuperation before the period of Rath Yatra, their annual sojourn to Mausi Maa Temple.

Presently undergoing treatment under the supervision of Raja Vaidya inside the Anasara chamber, the three deities who are out of bounds of devotees, underwent a special cure with a herbal oil named 'Phuluri Tela'.

It is believed that with the massage of the herbal potion prepared at the Bada Odia Matha using 24 herbal ingredients like Ketaki, malli, boula, champa, kia flowers, barks and roots like benachara, sesame oil, sandalwood powder, camphor, rice grains, the sick deities recuperate from the fever faster.

As per the tradition, the Daitas who are in charge of performing all rituals inside the Srimandir till the completion of Rath Yatra festivities, applied the Phuluri oil on the deities.

Sources say ‘Phuluri tela seva’ is one of the important part of herbal therapy for the deities and the herbal oil which is used in the ritual is prepared on Hera Panchami — the fifth day of the Rath Yatra every year but is only applied to the Trinity during the following year’s Anasara period.

After recuperating from fever, the Holy Trinity will give darshan to the devotees, on occasion of Nabajauban Darshan, a day before the grand car festival.