Lord Jagannath’s Snana Jatra on June 4; know timing of rituals

Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Puri district administration have started preparation for smooth conduct of Debasnana Purnima festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings at Srimandir in Puri city on June 4 (Sunday).

SJTA Chief Administrator Ranjan Kumar Das has recently held a meeting with the temple servitors to take stock of the arrangement for the bathing ritual of the deities.

“The SJTA has finalised schedule for the Debasnana Purnima festival and urged the servitors for timely completion of the rituals,” said an official of the 12^th century shrine.

The SJTA, meanwhile, urged the servitors not to loiter in front of the deities at the Snana Bedi (bathing altar). “Devotees usually face difficulties to have a glimpse of the deities due to the unauthorized loitering of the servitors at the Snana Bedi,” said the official.

“We have put up barricades and sheds on the Grand Road from the Market Square to the 12^th century shrine for the convenience of the devotees. The shops along the Grand Road from the Market Square to the palace of Gajapati King will remain closed from June 3 to 5 to avoid rush near the temple,” said Puri Collector Samartha Verma.

Here is the schedule for Debasnana Purnima ritual at Srimandir.

Ritual                                             Timing 

Mangalarpan                                3.30 am

Pahandi                                          4 am to 6 am

Mangalalati                                  8.10 am

Mailam                                          8.15 am

Tadaplagi                                     8.25 am

Adharpochha                             8.45 am

Abakash                                       9.20 am

Rosahoma                                  9.30 am

Surya Puja                                  9.55 am

Jalabije, Puja & Snana           11.20 am to 12.45 pm

Mailam, Besa                            1.50 pm

Chhera Panhara                        2 pm

Hati Besa                                    2.40 pm

Mahanta Sadhibandha         3.00 pm

Ghantachhata Sakaladhoopa     4.45 pm to 6.20 pm

Dakshinaghara Bhoga                    5.30 pm

Sahanamela                                      6 pm to 9.30 pm

Puspanjali, Deralagi                       10.00 pm

Bahuda Pahandi                             10 pm to 1 am

Sunachita, Rahurekha Mailam   1.30 am

As per the tradition, Lord Jagannath and his siblings are given a ceremonial bath on the occasion of Debasnana Purnima.

The servitors of the 12^th century shrine collect 108 pitchers of holy water from the Suna Kua (golden well) on the temple premises for performance of the ritual. They add herbal and aromatic essence to the water before pouring it on the deities on Snana Bedi.

After the completion of the bathing ritual, the deities are adorned with Hati Besa (elephant attire) on the Snana Bedi.

As per the belief, the deities catch fever soon after the bathing ritual. The ailing deities are taken to Anasara Gruha (isolation room) for their medication, said a servitor.

“The deities usually undergo medication for 14 days at Anasara Gruha. The devotees are not allowed to visit the deities in these 14 days. Upon their recovery from fever, the deities reappear before the devotees on the occasion of Nabajauban Darshan,” he added.