Bagchi draws parallel between COVID-19 quarantine and Lord Jagannath’s ‘anasara’

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government’s COVID-19 spokesperson today equated quarantine with Lord Jagannath’s anasara, in the backdrop of the precautionary measures to be taken to safeguard against the deadly virus.

“Lord Jagannath, the reigning deity of Odisha, has quarantine every year, once after he comes into contact with too many of His worshipers. He actually contracts cold which is a virus led thing. He is quarantined for exactly 14 days – same 14 days as in chickenpox and coronavirus. So, Lord Himself goes into quarantine for 14 days during which time he rests, he’s given the right kind of medication, the right kind of food and He bounces back,” Bagchi quipped.

He further said that we hope that people will shed the apprehension that they have about quarantine. Register themselves, stay safe.

The COVID-19 spokesperson drew the analogy during a presser at Geetagovinda Sadan here this afternoon.

During the Snana Purnima (bathing ritual of the sibling deities) on the run up to the annual Ratha Jatra, 108 pitchers of aromatic and herb-infused water is poured on Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. After the grand bathing ritual, the deities fall sick and keep away from public view. During this time, they are given special medicines and take 14 days to recover from the illness. This 14-day period is known as the Anasara and the place where they get nursed is called Anasara Ghara.