‘Snana Yatra’ rituals of Lord Jagannath, Siblings underway in Puri

ONI Bureau:  Lakhs of devotees throng at Puri to witness ‘Devasnana Purnima’ or ‘Snana Yatra’ (Bathing Festival) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra today.

Through a ritualistic procession, early in the morning, the servitors escorted out the deities from the Ratna Simhasana. The Lords were taken to the bathing altar (Snana Mandap) early morning with a Pahandi procession.

Lord Sudarsan was the first to be escorted to the bathing dais followed by Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Goddess Subhadra at last.

After Snana Yatra, the deities are supposed to fall ill (fever) and deities are kept on a special sick room called the ‘Ratna vedi’ inside the temple. They stay away from the public view for a period of 15 days. This period is known as ‘Anasara’.