Puri: The Adhara Pana ritual, which witnesses serving 100 litres of pana (sweet drink) to the Deities in specially made terracotta pots, will be held at 8 pm on the Trayadasi Tithi on Sunday.
The literary meaning of this ritual Adhara Pana is, Adhara – Lip and Pana-Juice. During the ritual, the terracotta pots are placed on each chariots parked near the Lion Gate of the 12th-century shrine. The Pana will be offered to the Deities in nine pots as against 12 pots used earlier.
As per the ritual, Pania Apata Sevakas will bring water from a well near Chhauni Matha near Singha Dwara in Puri. The Supakaras will prepare the Pana with milk cream, cheese, sugar, banana, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper and other such spices. The Patribadu, Suarabadu, Garabadu Palia Sevaka and Pujapanda Sevaka will offer the Pana to the Deities.
Once the pana is served, the pots are broken to liberate the souls/spirits and other invisible beings residing in the chariots.
The refreshment is only for the Gods and Goddesses, who stayed on the chariots during Rath Yatra to guard Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra which is why they are known as ‘Rath Rakhyak’. Devotees are forbidden to partake it.
The huge pots are made by the potters of Kumbharpada.
As per the tradition, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and the authorities of Raghab Das Mutt and Badaodia Mutt arrange the clay pots from local potters, who use three sacks of fine soil and a sack of sand to make these. It takes them at least a month to shape three special clay pots for the ritual.
Schedule Of The Ritual
The Sunday morning began with the Mangala Alati ritual from 6 am to 6.30 am. Mailam ritual was held at 7 am, Abakasa at 8 am and Gopala Ballabha ritual was held at 10.30.
After the Sakala Dhupa, Jatrangi Mahasnana and Sarbanga, Madhyanna Dhupa ritual was held at 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
The Adhara Pana ritual is likely to conclude by 8 pm.
