Puri: Preparations are in full swing at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri as servitors gear up to offer massive, sacred “Pata Rakhis” to Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra on the auspicious occasion of Gamha Purnima that coincides with Raksha Bandhan on Friday (August 28).
Falling on the full moon day of the holy Shravan month, the occasion celebrates the sacred bond between divine siblings while simultaneously marking the birthday of Lord Balabhadra.
As part of the grand centuries-old rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum, Goddess Subhadra will tie massive, sacred “Pata Rakhis” onto the wrists of her divine brothers. Crafted meticulously by the hereditary Patara Bisoi servitors, the giant rakhis measure around two feet in diameter and feature specially woven thread bands spanning 10 to 12 feet long. The intricate process relies on age-old traditional techniques where “Basunga” silk cloth, provided by the temple administration, is dyed in vibrant natural shades of red, yellow, blue, and violet, sun-dried, and then shredded using specialised combs before being arranged into a distinct five-layer circular structure.
Alongside the sacred threads, the deities on the Ratnabedi will be adorned in opulent gold ornaments and the Lords offered 54 traditional “Guamala” garlands made from intact areca nuts. The servitors prepare Guamala in yellow and red colour combination for Lord Jagannath and purple and blue colour combination for Lord Balabhadra.
Later, Lord Sudarshan proceeds to Markand Pond in ‘chaudola’ decorated with golden garlands, where Sudha Suara observe some traditions by making the idol of Lord Balabhadra with wet clay. They spew life into the idol by chanting mantras and then offer ‘bhog’. The idol is later immersed in the pond. Following this, Lord Sudarshan proceeds to three Ashrams and returns to 12th-century shrine late in the night.
Jagannath culture researchers emphasise that these sacred rites, deeply rooted in the state’s cultural fabric, go beyond temple ritualism to symbolise the universal, sacred bond between siblings, radiating a timeless message of love, duty, and spiritual protection.
