Puri: Lakhs of devotees across Odisha and other parts of the state witnessed the Pahandi (procession) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan to the bathing altar (Snana Mandap) in Puri on Thursday.
The Daitapati servitors had begun the bathing rituals of the Lords with the Senapata Lagi at 10 am on Wednesday and it was completed at 2.15 pm. This was followed by Shrimukha Khandua ritual at 12.30 and Bahutakanta at 1.10 am.
The Mangalarpana rituals were conducted at 5 am. The Pahandi of the Lords to the Snana Mandap began at 5.30 am after the servitors performed the ‘Dora Lagi’ and ‘Pushpanjali’ rituals.
The Pahandi rituals were completed at 8. 40 am.
The bathing rituals of the Lords would be performed between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm after the Mangala Alati, Mailam Lagi, Tadapa Lagi, Adharapochha, Abakasha Niti, Rosha Homa, Surya Puja and Dwarapala Puja rituals.
The servitors would perform the bathing rituals of the Lords with the water from the Suna Kua (well) near the Goddess Shitala temple at the Uttaradwara (north gate) inside the temple.
Out of 108 pitchers of water, Lord Jagannath would take bath with 35 pitchers of water, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be bathed with 33 pitchers and 22 pitchers of water respectively while Lord Sudarshan will take bath with 18 pitchers of water.
After the completion of the bathing rituals, the servitors would perform the Mailam Lagi, Mekapa Sarbanga and Nua Lagi Besha rituals which will be completed at 2.30 pm.
The Lords would be adorned with the Hati Besha (elephant attire) at 4 pm after the Chhera Panhara (cleaning) of the Mandap by the Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb at 3.30 pm.
The duration of the Hati Besha of the Lords for the devotees will continue for one hour from 4 pm to 5 pm after which the Mahanta Sadhibandha Niti will be performed at 5.30 pm. The Ghanta Chhata and Sakala Dhupa rituals will be held between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm.
The Sahana Mela darshan of the Lords will continue for two hours from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm which will be followed by the Pushpanjali and Dora Lagi rituals at 10 pm.
The Bahuda Pahandi of the Lords will begin at 10.30 pm till 1.30 am after which the servitors would perform Sunachita and Rahurekha Mailam Niti at 2 am.
For the smooth conduct of the festival, the district administration has made elaborate security arrangements with the deployment of 42 platoons of force and 250 police officers.
To facilitate the devotees with the smooth darshan of the Lords, barricades have been put up in front of the Simhadwara of the temple. For the Sahana Mela darshan of the Lords, the devotees will enter the temple through the Simhadwara and exit through the Uttaradwara after the darshan.
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