Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is gearing up for a unique convergence of celestial and religious events on March 3, 2026, when a total lunar eclipse coincides with Dola Purnima, the festival celebrating Radha-Krishna with colourful processions.
This rare occurrence, often referred to as a “Blood Moon” due to the Moon’s reddish hue during totality, will begins at approximately at 3.20 pm and conclude at 6.47 pm, with the partial phase running from around 4.34 pm to 5.33 pm, though visibility in Odisha will be limited to the later stages after moonrise from 6.15–6.40 pm.
Temple authorities have confirmed that all major rituals, including Mahaprabhu’s Rajadhiraja Besha and the Dola Purnima rituals, will have to be completed before sunrise on the day of the eclipse. Cooking, offerings and daily temple rituals will remain suspended from sunrise till the end of the eclipse.
Accordingly, servitors are prepa
ring for an unusually compressed schedule. However, the 12th-century shrine will remain open during this period. A Chhatisa Nijog meeting is scheduled for February 24 to ensure the orderly conduct of ceremonies, including Suna Besha of the deities and Dolabedi Bije rituals at the Srimandir,.
Rituals such as Mangala Alati, Tadapalagi, Abakasa Niti, and other morning rituals are expected to be completed in the early hours of the morning. The Grahana Maha Snana ritual will be performed when the eclipse begins. Thereafter, rituals including Suna Besha will be conducted. Lord Jagannath will be seated on the Dola Bedi, and Mandira Parikrama will be performed, the sources said.
On the occasion of Dola Purnima, Lord Jagannath is worshipped as Dola Govinda, a form of Lord Krishna, at the shrine. Lord’s moving deity Dolagovinda, Bhudevi and Sridevi were taken out in a palanquin around the temple for seven times. The devotees also participate in the grand procession to the decorated Dola Bedi at the Jagannath Ballav Mutt. During this period, the deities are adorned in Chacheri Besha and offered the Chacheri Bhoga, a unique preparation made with jaggery, sugar, and newly harvested grains, symbolising prosperity and devotion.
Devotees also throng the temple to witness Suna Besha of the sibling deities on this auspicious day.