Lakhs of devotees throng Lord Jagannath temple in Puri to witness 'Snana Yatra'
Bhubaneswar: Lakhs of devotees thronged to the sacred city of Puri in Odisha to witness the divine spectacle of 'Snana Purnima' or the 'Deva Snana Purnima', the ritual bathing of holy triad -- Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra -- at the famous Jagannath temple on Wednesday.
This marks the beginning of the famous Rath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin from June 27 this year.
On Wednesday, the servitors brought the deities from their sanctum sanctorum to the bathing platform 'Snana Vedi' in a grand procession called 'Pahandi Bije' ritual with the blowing of traditional musical instruments such as gongs, conch shells, etc.
The holy siblings got bathed by the servitors with 108 pitchers of holy, fragrant water drawn from a mysterious well known as the 'Sunakua' or the 'Golden Well' inside the temple.
After the ceremonial bath, the deities are decked up with specially made elephant masks popularly known as 'Gajanana Besha' or 'Hathi Besha'.
Later, the deities return to the temple and are placed at 'Anasaragruha' (isolation room).
It is said that the holy siblings suffer fever due to the bathing and remain out of bound for all, except Daita and Paita servitors.
The idols of the three deities then make an appearance after 14 days of 'anasara' or quarantine in a new appearance known as "Naba Jaubana Darshana".
On the auspicious occasion of Snana Purnima, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Puri and offered prayers to Lord Jagannath on the 'Snana Bedi' (bathing altar).
After witnessing the divine ritual, he proceeded to the Srimandir (Jagannath Temple) and later inspected the ongoing construction work of the chariots for the upcoming Rath Yatra.
"I prayed to the Lord Jagannath for the happiness, peace and well being of people across the globe as well as Odisha. I also prayed for the smooth and hassle-free conduct of the upcoming Ratha Yatra festival," said CM Majhi.
He also expressed satisfaction over the preparations by the district administration and servitors for the Snana Purnima rituals at Puri.
The Puri Police has made elaborate arrangements for crowd control and to avoid any untoward incident during the Snana Yatra festival.
As many as 70 platoons of police force and 450 officers have been deployed for security arrangements during the Snana Yatra.
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Time of India
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The Jagannath Rath Yatra, a grand chariot festival in Puri, Odisha, involves the procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra on massive wooden chariots. Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to the Gundicha Temple, followed by a return journey. Celebrations extend to other cities like Ahmedabad, with rituals and preparations underway, marking a festival steeped in history and tradition. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Celebrations Across India A Festival with History The Three Grand Chariots Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Nandighosha for Jagannath (16 wheels) Taladhwaja for Balabhadra (14 wheels) Darpadalana for Subhadra (12 wheels) The Procession Tips for First-Time Visitors Arrive early – Come 2–3 days before the event to get good accommodation. Dress wisely – Wear light, modest clothes and stay hydrated in the summer heat (25–35 °C). Where to watch – You can either book viewing gallery tickets for a calmer view or join the lively crowd along the chariot path. Follow local customs – Respect religious practices and follow ritual timings. Use Technology to Help The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, is the biggest chariot festival in the world. It takes place every year in June or July. During the festival, three idols—Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra—are taken out of the Jagannath Temple and placed on huge wooden chariots. These chariots are pulled by thousands of people through the streets of Puri to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km a week, the return journey, called Bahuda Yatra, brings the deities back to the main excitement isn't just in Puri. Other cities also celebrate. In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the state's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that lakhs of devotees take part in the Rath Yatra there too. The important Jal Yatra ritual (fetching holy water from the Sabarmati River) has already started. He also said all arrangements are being made for the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, which will be held on June in Odisha, important rituals like Pahandi and Snana Utsav (ritual bathing) have already taken Rath Yatra dates back to the 12th–16th centuries. Some believe it marks Lord Krishna's return to his birthplace, while others say it was started by King Indradyumna. The festival follows age-old traditions. First, the idols are bathed with 108 pots of water on Snana Purnima. Then, they rest in isolation (called Anavasara) as they are said to fall 'ill,' before coming out for the big deity has a large wooden chariot:The chariots are made fresh each year from special wood and are decorated with colorful cloth. Over 1,200 meters of cloth is used, and the chariots are made using more than 600–800 wooden parts.A special moment in the festival is the Chera Pahara ritual , where the Gajapati King sweeps the area around the chariots with a golden broom, showing that everyone is equal before the chariots move through the streets, people shout 'Jai Jagannath' and pull the ropes. It's believed that touching the ropes brings blessings and washes away sins. The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for nine days. On the return trip, they stop at the Mausi Maa Temple to enjoy their favorite sweet—Poda Pitha, a traditional pancake. The festival ends with Niladri Bijaya, when the idols return to the main Odisha government has launched the Shree Jagannatha Dham app. It gives live updates, info on darshan queues, navigation, Mahaprasad availability, and a grievance portal. It's very helpful during the Rath Yatra.[With TOI inputs]
Indian Express
a day ago
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Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 Date, Significance and Mythology: The Jagannath Rath Yatra, often called the Jagannath Puri Yatra or 'Festival of Chariots', is one of India's largest and most significant festivities. It is performed annually in Puri, Odisha, to worship Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, his older brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra. The celebration takes place on Dwitiya Tithi, the second day of the bright fortnight of the Sharad Paksha, a fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Asadh, which often corresponds to June or July as per the Gregorian calendar. The festival officially starts today, on June 12, 2025, with the Snana Purnima (ceremonial bathing of the deities), followed by a rest period called Anavasara from June 13 to June 26, during which the deities are kept away from public view as they are believed to be recuperating after the bath. According to Drik Panchang, in 2025, the Dwitiya date starts from June 26 at 1:24 PM and ends on June 27 at 11:19 AM. This is why the main Rath Yatra procession, where Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are taken out on their respective chariots, will be on June 27, 2025. The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, a celebration celebrating life journeys and the pursuit of soul liberation, is viewed as Lord Jagannath's symbolic journey from the temple (the heavens) to the streets (the earthly realm) to visit all of his devotees. Additionally, according to the Hindu legend, it is believed that Lord Jagannath returns to his birthplace, Mathura, in this journey, and devotees who pull the chariots and touch the ropes are granted blessings and forgiveness of sins. It is known as the celebration of oneness because it brings together individuals from all walks of life. The Chhera Panhara rite (sweeping the chariots) is performed by the King of Puri himself, demonstrating that everyone is equal in the eyes of God.
Hans India
2 days ago
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Lakhs of devotees throng Lord Jagannath temple in Puri to witness 'Snana Yatra'
Bhubaneswar: Lakhs of devotees thronged to the sacred city of Puri in Odisha to witness the divine spectacle of 'Snana Purnima' or the 'Deva Snana Purnima', the ritual bathing of holy triad -- Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra -- at the famous Jagannath temple on Wednesday. This marks the beginning of the famous Rath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin from June 27 this year. On Wednesday, the servitors brought the deities from their sanctum sanctorum to the bathing platform 'Snana Vedi' in a grand procession called 'Pahandi Bije' ritual with the blowing of traditional musical instruments such as gongs, conch shells, etc. The holy siblings got bathed by the servitors with 108 pitchers of holy, fragrant water drawn from a mysterious well known as the 'Sunakua' or the 'Golden Well' inside the temple. After the ceremonial bath, the deities are decked up with specially made elephant masks popularly known as 'Gajanana Besha' or 'Hathi Besha'. Later, the deities return to the temple and are placed at 'Anasaragruha' (isolation room). It is said that the holy siblings suffer fever due to the bathing and remain out of bound for all, except Daita and Paita servitors. The idols of the three deities then make an appearance after 14 days of 'anasara' or quarantine in a new appearance known as "Naba Jaubana Darshana". On the auspicious occasion of Snana Purnima, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Puri and offered prayers to Lord Jagannath on the 'Snana Bedi' (bathing altar). After witnessing the divine ritual, he proceeded to the Srimandir (Jagannath Temple) and later inspected the ongoing construction work of the chariots for the upcoming Rath Yatra. "I prayed to the Lord Jagannath for the happiness, peace and well being of people across the globe as well as Odisha. I also prayed for the smooth and hassle-free conduct of the upcoming Ratha Yatra festival," said CM Majhi. He also expressed satisfaction over the preparations by the district administration and servitors for the Snana Purnima rituals at Puri. The Puri Police has made elaborate arrangements for crowd control and to avoid any untoward incident during the Snana Yatra festival. As many as 70 platoons of police force and 450 officers have been deployed for security arrangements during the Snana Yatra.
