[In Pictures] Odisha CM Mohan Majhi, Dharmendra Pradhan Join Thousands For Snana Jatra Of Lords In Puri

Bhubaneswar/Puri: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Puri MP Sambit Patra were among thousands of devotees, who thronged Bada Danda in Odisha’s Puri town, to witness Snana Jatra of the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple on Monday. 

The CM had darshan of the Chaturdhamurti at Snana Mandap (bathing altar).

Earlier in the day, the deities were escorted to the Snana Mandap in a ‘Pahandi’ (procession) after ‘Mangal Arati’. The mandap is an elevated platform on the temple premises facing east overlooking the Bada Danda. To be able to bear the stress during the procession, the deities are made to wear ‘Senapatta’, a body armour made of ‘Baula’ wood, by the Daitapatis who take charge of the deities from regular priests the previous night.

It is here on the mandap that they are given a ritualistic bath with 108 pitchers of herbal and aromatic water drawn from Suna Kua (well) on the temple premises after the sevayats perform a complex set of rituals. ‘Chhera Pahanra’, the ceremonial sweeping, is then performed by Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, following which ‘Sahan Mela’ or public darshan is allowed.

The deities initially appear in ‘Sada Besha’. Later in the day, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed like elephants, while Goddess Subhadra dons lotus flower Besha. A special ‘Bhog’ is also prepared as an offering.

The devotees believe that a glimpse of the deities on this auspicious day will rid them of all sins.

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