Lucknow: Age-old faith met a touch of modern healthcare as a medical team checked Lord Jagannath and his siblings ahead of Thursday’s Rath Yatra.
A video has gone viral showing doctors conducting a health check-up of the divine triad at the Ras Mandal Jagannath Temple in UP’s Jaunpur.
The doctors examined the much-loved and revered deities with stethoscopes at the end of their 15-day Anavasara period, during which devotees believe the Lord and his siblings rest and recover after the sacred Snana Purnima ritual.
#जौनपुर का ये अद्भुत दृश्य है, यहां पर MBBS डॉक्टरों ने प्रभु जगन्नाथ के पट खुलते ही सबसे पहले हेल्थ चेकअप किया। स्टेथो को कान में लगाकर पूरी तरफ से उन्हें देखा गया। इसके बाद यात्रा शुरू हुई। pic.twitter.com/vSpmeG20BX
— Pulkit Tiwari (@Pulkit_tr) July 16, 2026
As doctors declared Lord Jagannath healthy, devotees were very happy as it paved the way for the much-awaited Rath Yatra celebrations.
The deity is traditionally offered pointed gourd (parwal) juice as bhog after the check-up. Then, a special khichdi is offered, after which Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is taken out through the streets of Jaunpur.
Even as the viral video sparked curiosity and diverse reactions online, the health examination of Lord Jagannath remains an ritual for devotees.
It’s a centuries-old tradition in Jaunpur, where thousands of devotees participate in the annual procession.