Bhubaneswar: After a gap of almost two years due to COVID restrictions, people across Odisha celebrated Makar Sankranti by taking holy dips in waterbodies and offering prayers at temples.
Special ‘Makara’ rituals were performed at Jagannath Temple in Puri town on this auspicious day also known as Uttarayan.
Makar Chaurasi Besha
The special rituals begin after the Madhyanha Dhupa (mid-day offering) of the sibling deities, who are then dressed in ‘Makara-chula (headgear) Besha’. Following these rituals, ‘Gopalaballabha’ and ‘Sakala Dhupa’ are offered to them. The Lords don ornaments as part of the ‘Makar Chaurasi Besha’. The Jagannath Ballava Mutt provides garlands of colourful flowers, especially marigold, and basil leaves to the 12th-century shrine for this purpose.
Makara Chaula
‘Makar Chaula’, a special item prepared with new raw rice, is also offered to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and four Digapalas. Alamchandi temple, located at Kumbharpada here, provides five ‘Makara Tadas’ to the temple the previous night for the special ‘Makara Chaula’ prasad for the deities.
The special prasad will be taken out on a procession around the temple with the beatings of gongs.
Notably, Makar Sankranti is one of the 12 jatras of the Lords, when a special betel (Nali Paan), in fact, the world’s largest paan is offered to Lord Jagannath.
Also Read: Makar Shankranti: Scientific & Ritualistic Fervour Of This Festival With Many Names
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