Devotees throng Puri Jagannath temple for Nabajouban darshan of lords

Puri: Devotees made a long beeline to have first glimpse of Chaturdhamurti (Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra along with Sudarshan) on the occasion of Nabajouban darshan at Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri after fortnight-long interval.

After recovering of illness and fever due to holy bath on Snana Purnima, the deities moved out of Anasara house (hibernation) and gave darshan to devotees on the auspicious occasion of Netra Utsav. The darshan of the deities on Ratna Bedi after 14 days long illness is called Nabajouban darshan.

The devotees had parimanik darshan (paid darshan) after the south entrance was opened at 11.25 am. Later, there was a huge crowd to enter the shrine for Sahanamela (free darshan) of deities after Anasara period.

However, the darshan was delayed for around four hours following the delay in rituals of deities inside the temple. Thousands of devotees were seen standing in long queue in front of Singha Dwara (main entrance) of the century old shrine in the morning. With the passing of time, the eagerness for having darshan of their beloved lords was also enhanced.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for Nabajouban darshan of the deities inside and outside the temple.