Puri: Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain out of bounds for devotees for 4 hours from 1 pm on Wednesday for the elopement ritual of Lord Krishna with Devi Rukmini, popularly known as ‘Rukmini Haran’.
According to the tradition, the ritual is enacted on the shrine premises on the auspicious Rukmini Haran Ekadashi, which is observed on eleventh day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyestha and four days before Debasnana Purnima.
Legends has it that Rukmini was in love with Krishna but her brother Rukmi wanted her to marry Sisupala. So, she secretly sends a message to Krishna asking him to stage her abduction and marry her.
On this occasion, Lord Jagannath is adorned with Baula Pata and sends his representative, Madanmohan, to kidnap Rukmini, the princess of Vidharba, while she is offering prayers at Maa Bimala temple. Sisupala chases the duo and a war ensues with the Lord emerging victorious. Once the war gets over, the servitors start preparations for the divine wedding of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Rukmani on the Vivaha Mandap inside the temple.
Apart from the divine marriage ceremony, ‘Jalakrida ritual’ of ‘Bhitara Chandan Jatra’ is also held on the day.
