Puri Jagannath Temple Goes ‘Undercover’ For Pre-Rath Rituals

Puri: The Jagannath Temple here remained out of bounds for the devotees till 11.30 am on Sunday
for the secret ritual ahead of Snana Yatra of the sibling deities.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had informed about this restriction.

The ritual was performed by the Daitapati servitors (sevayats), who took charge from the Panda sevayats on Saturday.

The Daitapati sevayats also play an important role during Nabakalebar, the ritual in connection with changing of the deities’ wooden bodies. According to mythology, the Daitapatis are considered close relatives of Lord Jagannath. They are the decedents of Shabara chieftain Biswabasu, who used to worship Jagannath before the Lord came to the temple in Puri.

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for Snana Purnima ritual, which marks a prelude to the annual Rath Yatra, on Monday.

Security has beefed up with 124 Sections of the police force and a special tactical unit (STU) being deployed for the rituals.

Puri SP Umashankar Das informed that parking arrangements of vehicles have been made at eight places.

For the ceremonial bath, the deities are brought to Snana Mandap in a procession. They are then bathed with 108 pitchers of water drawn from a well situated near the Sitala temple in the confines of the Jagannatha Temple.

The deities are dressed up in ‘Hati Besha’ or elephant costume and the daily food offering or Bhogalagi is made on Snana Mandap, in full public view.

After Snana Yatra, the deities are believed to fall ill and are kept in a sick room (Anasara ghara) to recuperate for 15 days. During this period devotees head to Alarnatha Temple in Bramhagiri.