Deba Snana Purnima Rituals Underway at Srimandir in Puri

Puri: The annual Deva Snana Purnima rituals of Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are underway in Puri Srimandir with religious gaiety.

Thousands of devotees have thronged this one of the four Dhams of Hinduism to witness this annual event.

The deities reached the Snana Mandap through the ritualistic pahandi procession early in the morning from the Ratna Ratna Simhasana.

As part of the rituals, the servitors will pour 108 pots of water blended with aromatic herbs, sandal wood paste, keshar and karpur on the deities as part of the bathing rituals. The water was collected from the sacred golden well (Suna Kua) located near the north gate of the temple.

The water of this well is used only once a year during Snana Jatra.

Out of the 108 pots of water, 35 pots of water are used for bathing Lord Jagannath, 33 pots of water for Balabhadra, 22 for Devi Subhadra and 18 pots of water for Lord Sudarshan.

After the ritualistic bath, the deities would be decorated in ‘Hati Besha’ (elephant attire) to appear as the incarnation of Lord Ganesha. The Sahana Mela (open darshan) of the deities will be held from 6.30 pm onwards.

After the Snanan Jatra, the deities will be brought to the temple to remain secluded in the ‘Anasara Ghara’ from Jyestha Purnima and ends on Ashadha Amavasya.