Puri: The auspicious Snana Purnima was marked by the Holy shower of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra along with Lord Sudarshan on Snana Mandap (bathing pandal) at the Jagannath Temple in Puri today.

Lakhs of devotees witnessed the divine sight at Srimandir, the 12th-century temple in the pilgrim town of Odisha on Deba Snana Purnima, also known as Jyestha Purnima.

The deities had the ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of holy water blended with chandan (sandalwood paste), karpur (camphor), keshar (saffron), chua (oan essential oil), harida (Terminalia chebula), fragrant flowers, aguru (a fragrant substance), benachera (a fragrant grass 'khus khus'), aromatic herbs and perfumes on the Snana Mandap, situated at Ananda Bazar, following rituals including Mangal Arati, Abakash Niti and Bimba Snana (daily bath.

While Lord Jagannath took the holy bath with 35 pots of water, the servitors poured 33 pots of water on Lord Balabhadra, 22 pots of water on Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan, Lord Vishnu's divine discus or chakra, which is being worshipped in form of pole along with Lord Jagannath at the Jagannath Temple, took bath with 18 pots of water on Snana Mandap.

The deities were brought out from Ratna Bedi (inner sanctum of temple) to the Snana Mandap early in the morning in a ceremonial procession called 'pahandi'. The deities adorned different flowers, garland of Tulasi (holy basil). The servitors brought 108 pitchers of water from Suna Kua (Golden Well) inside the temple a day before the Snana Purnima after a ritual performed by the Bada Pandas (chief priests). The Mudirasta and Sunagosein servitors kept those pitchers at Adhibasa Ghara and kept those at Adhibasa Ghara. On Snana Jatra, the Garabadu servitors carried the pitchers containing holy water to the Snana Mandap. The chief priests purified the water with aromatic herbs including karpur, chua, keshar and chandan by chanting mantras before pouring the pots of aromatic water on deities.

At 12.55 PM, the servitors carried out the ceremonial bath with the pots by chanting vedic mantras. The entire atmosphere was reverberated with kirtans, beating of various musical instruments including cymbals, gongs, mridanga, turi, conch shells outside the Meghanada Pacheri (boundary wall).

The Deba Snana Purnima falls on the full moon day of the month of Jyestha as per Hindu almanac. This is the auspicious day when Lord Jagannath appeared in the form of a wood on the sea. Therefore, the day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Jagannath with holy bathing.

On the special day, the deities don Gajanan Besha or Hati Besha after the ceremonial bath.

After taking shower with 108 pots of water, it is believed that the deities suffer from cold and fever. The idols are kept away from public view for a period of 15 days at Anansara Ghara for treatment. During the period, Anasara ritual (a specific ritual) is performed by the Daita servitors. The period of isolation is called Anasara, which means improper time for worship.