Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri will remain closed for public darshan for around five hours on Friday night as certain special rituals are slated to be performed on the occasion of Janmashtami.
As per sources, public darshan will remain suspended from around 7 pm till midnight for the sacred rituals marking the divine birth of Lord Krishna. Jasnashtami is being observed with the special Krishna Janma Niti, a sacred sequence of midnight rituals.
In order to facilitate the performance of these Nitis, public darshan at the temple has been restricted after the Sandhyadhupa rituals are over. This five-hour closure is to allow uninterrupted performance of the Sandhyadhupa Bhoga Chheka and Lord Krishna Birth ritual, conducted inside the sanctum sanctorum.
As per mythology, Lord Krishna was born during Bhadrapada, Krishna Paksha Ashtami at midnight to Devaki and Basudeva in Mathura. His birth heralded the fall of the tyrant Kansa and symbolised the restoration of Dharma.
Jaya-Bijaya Dwar of Shree Jagannath Temple is closed after Sandhyadhupa, and Garbhagriha (sanctum) is cleansed in preparation for the Krishna Janma Niti. Jeuda Bhoga, a traditional offering including Saga (leafy greens), vegetables, Pithas, and Odia Kheeri etc, is prepared and offered in the Anasara Pindi.
Mudirastha Sevakas offer the Bhoga to the deities’ Shri Anga (divine form). Only after the completion of this intricate midnight ceremony devotees will be allowed to enter the shrine for darshan of the sibling deities.
