Puri Ratha Jatra: Know schedule of rituals from Snana Jatra to Niladri Bije

Puri: With just four days away for the ceremonial bathing festival of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir in Puri, the Shree Jagannathe Temple Administration (SJTA) today fixed the schedule of rituals from the Snana Jatra to Niladri Bije.

The schedule was finalised at the Chhatisa Nijog meeting chaired by SJTA Chief Administrator Krishan Kumar.

The Holy Snana Jatra of Lords falls on June 24 this year. As per the schedule, the pahandi rituals of Lord Jagannath and Holy siblings will begin at 1.00 AM and end by 4.00 AM. The chhera pahanra ritual by the King Dibya Singh Deb is scheduled at 10.30 AM. The deities will be adorned with Gajanan Besha or Hati Besha between 11.00 AM and 12.00 Noon. The deities will be taken to the Anasara House in a pahandi between 5.00 PM and 8.00 PM. The Anasara rituals will begin from that day for next 15 days.

Like previous year, the event will be held without devotees this year in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Similarly, the world famous Ratha Jatra will be held sans participation of devotees on July 12.

As per the schedule of rituals of deities from the Ratha Jatra to Niladri Bije, the three chariots — Nandighosha, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana (Devi Ratha) — will be worshipped at 8.00 AM following which the pahandi rituals of deities will begin at 8.30 AM on July 12.

The chhera pahanra by the King will take place at 2.00 PM and pulling of chariots will start at 3.00 PM on the scheduled date.

The temple administration has decided to carry out pahandi rituals of deities at the Gundicha Temple 12.00 PM and 2.30 PM on the day of Bahuda Jatra scheduled on July 20. The chariots will be pulled by volunteers, police personnel and servitors to Srimandir at 4.00 PM.

The Suna Besha, which is the important rituals of Lord Jagannath during 12-day-long car festival, will be held on chariots between 4.00 PM and 5.30 PM on July 21. The next day i.e on July 22, the Adharapana rituals will be completed by 8.00 PM. The Niladri Bije rituals of deities will begin at 4.00 PM and end at 10.00 PM on July 23.