Angul (Odisha): The sacred Deba Snana Purnima, the grand ceremonial bathing festival of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, was observed with devotion and spiritual grandeur at the Jagannath Temple in Devbhoomi, Jindal Nagar at Odisha’s Angul.
Savitri Jindal, Chairperson Emeritus of the OP Jindal Group, and Shallu Jindal, Chairperson, Jindal Foundation and Adya Sevika of the temple, participated in the rituals and offered prayers and reverence to the Holy Trinity.
Hundreds of devotees from Jindal Nagar and the neighbouring villages thronged the temple to create an atmosphere charged with devotion.
Amid chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and rhythmic peal of temple bells, the rituals were performed with utmost sanctity by the prime servitors, in adherence to traditions and customs of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
The rituals commenced at the auspicious hour of 5 am with Dwara Phita, Mangal Aarti, Shrikarpura Lagi, Mangalarpana Neeti, Pushpanjali and Sarbanga.
One of the most awaited moments of the festival, the Dhadi Pahandi of Chaturdha Murati to the Snana Mandap was witnessed with deep devotion. The deities were ceremonially bathed with sacred water, symbolising divine purification, blessings and universal well-being.
After the ceremonial bath, the deities were adorned in the magnificent Hati Besha (Gajanana Besha). Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra assumed the majestic elephant attire symbolising Lord Ganesha, while Devi Subhadra was adorned in Padma Besha (Lotus attire).
In the evening, the Anasara Pahandi ritual marked the ceremonial retreat of the deities to the Anasara Ghara, where they will remain in sacred seclusion for the next 14 days.
Devotees will again be allowed divine darshan of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath on the auspicious occasion of Netrotsav (Netra Utsav), marking their first public appearance before the grand Rath Yatra.
