Puri: The three-day festival of lights at Jagannath temple here, popularly known as Deba Dipabali, started on Sunday.
Every year, the festival begins on the day of Krushnapaksha Chaturdashi in the Hindu month of Margasira, and continues on Amabasya and Pratipada.
During this time, the sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra — wear Sradha Vesha and make offerings to their late parents.
On the first day, ‘Sandhya dhup’ ritual takes place after which Lord Jagannath offers ‘Pinda’ (obsequies) to King Indradyumna, who established the deities in the temple. He had asked for a boon to end his dynasty so that no successor could claim ownership of the temple.
On the second day, as incarnation of Lord Ram, Lord Jagannath offers Pinda to his father, King Dasarath and Kausalya.
On Pratipada Tithi, the Lord makes offerings to Devaki, Basudeva, Nanda, Yasoda and Gundicha Rani.
The three deities adorn white clothes with yellow border for Lord Jagannath, black border for Lord Balabhadra and red border for Devi Subhadra.
Special priests called Singharis dress the deities after Sandhya dhup ritual.
