Puri: Thousands of devotees thronged Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri on Thursday to witness Nabajouban Darshan of the sibling deities at Shree Jagannath temple.
Huge rush of devotees was witnessed at the 12th century shrine since morning as Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra reappeared to give darshan in youthful form after remaining in quarantine for a fortnight in Anasara Ghara (Sick Chamber).
Nabajouban Besha is held to celebrate the rejuvenation of Lord Jagannath’s body. Daitas wash the body of the Lord and repaint it except for the eyes.
In this ceremony, the eyes of the idols are painted by their respective priests and puja restarts at the shrine.
As per mythology, the deities have recuperated after falling sick due to taking excessive baths during ‘Snana Purnima’ on June 11.
Notably, after taking bath during Snana Yatra, Lord Jagannath and his siblings fall ill. They are then put up at Anasara Pindi to recuperate. The sibling deities are said to become completely cured once the Anasara rituals come to an end. Lakhs of devotees throng the seaside pilgrim town to have a glimpse of their rejuvenated Gods and seek their blessings.
On this day, which is also called Netra Utshab, Paramanik Darshan of the deities was held between 8 am and 9 am while general public darshan was allowed from 9 am to 10.30 am after which the doors of the 12th-century shrine were shut for rituals. While 3,000 tickets have been allocated for special darshan, arrangements have been made for Paramanik Darshan ticket holders to enter the Shree Jagannath Temple through Dakshina Swara (South Gate), sources said.
There will be no darshan of the Holy Trinity after Sahanamela. Devotees can move around in the inner compound and can have darshan of other deities on the shrine premises.
Earlier, Banakalagi ritual of the deities was performed. Following this, the servitors were engaged in making preparation for the Nabajouban Besha.
The temple management and district administration have elaborate arrangements for smooth darshan of the deities by the devotees who have turn up in large numbers in the town.
Meanwhile, final touches are being given to the preparations for the world-famous Rath Yatra on Friday. The three giant chariots will be pulled from the rath yard to the front of the Temple. The chariots will be pulled only after receiving agyan malas (divine garlands of consent) from the three ‘badas’.
Following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the pilgrim town has been heavily fortified with over 10,000 security personnel, including Central Armed Police Forces, deployed for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, set for June 27. Over 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras have been installed across the town for surveillance, monitored 24/7 from a newly established Integrated Command and Control Room.
