Every year on the occasion of Jyestha Purnima, sibling deities (Lord Balabhadra, Mahaprabhu Jagannath & Devi Subhadra) and Chakradhar Sudarsan, take a ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of sacred water. After this holy bathing or Snana Yatra rituals, deities are decked up in Gajanana Besha. The Snana Yatra culminates after the Lords are taken to the 'Anasara Ghara' on Pahandi.
By: Devbrat Patnaik
Last updated: 14 June 2022, 04:46 PM IST
'Pahandi Bije' of the Holy Trinity. Lord Jagannath taken to Snana Bedi (bathing altar) from Ratna Bedi in a ceremonial procession known as Dhadi Pahandi.
Lord Balabhadra, Mahaprabhu Jagannath and Devi Subhadra were brought out from inner sanctum in ceremonial pahandi. Here is the first glimpse of the Trinity after they were placed on Snana Mandap for the grand bathing rituals.
Mangala Arati of Chaturdhamurti on Snana Mandap.
After Mangala Arati, Abakasa Niti is conducted at the Snana mandap.
The Lords are covered in silken cloth ahead of the ceremonial bath. Sandalwood paste, camphor, Saffron and 'Chua' are mixed with the holy water stored from the golden well near Devi Shitala Temple.
Maha Snana Rituals: Priests chant long mantras as they pour 108 pots of sanctified water over the sibling deities. Lord Jagannath is bathed with 35 pots of scented water, Lord Balabhadra 33 pots, Devi Subhadra 22 & Chakradhar Sudarsan with 18 pots of water collected from well near Devi Sitala temple.
Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performs Chhera Pahanra rituals or the ceremonial sweeping at the Snana Bedi.
Behold the grand spectacle of Hati Besha of Lord Jagannath and His siblings at the Snana Bedi in Puri Srimandir. Trinity watching over the world with protective eyes.