Bhubaneswar, July 26:The sacred Adhar Panaritual, one of the final ceremonies of the annual Rath Yatra, was performed on Sunday atop the three grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra in Puri, a day before the deities’ ceremonial return to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple during Niladri Bije.

The sibling deities have remained on their respective chariots along the Grand Road since Thursday, when theBahuda Yatra(return journey) concluded with the chariots reaching the Lion’s Gate of the temple.

As part of the age-old tradition, servitors offered Adhar Pana—a sacred sweet drink prepared using milk, sugar, cheese, banana, aromatic spices and other ingredients—in specially crafted earthen pots. The pots were placed before the deities on their chariots, ritually offered, and later smashed, allowing the sacred drink to flow over the chariots.

According to Jagannath tradition, the ritual is dedicated to the countless unseen spirits, celestial attendants and invisible beings believed to have accompanied the deities throughout their annual journey outside the temple. The breaking of the earthen pots symbolises offering the sacred drink to these divine entities, who are believed to depart peacefully after receiving the blessings of the Lords.

The Adhar Pana ritual reflects Lord Jagannath’s compassion and inclusiveness, extending divine grace to all beings, visible and invisible. The ceremony began in the evening amid devotional chants, the blowing of conch shells and the rhythmic beats of traditional instruments, attracting thousands of devotees to the Grand Road.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the ritual, Odisha Police and the district administration deployed extensive security and crowd-management arrangements around the Lion’s Gate and key areas of the Grand Road.

The annual Rath Yatra festivities will conclude on Monday with Niladri Bije, one of the most significant rituals in the Jagannath tradition. During the ceremony, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be ceremonially escorted from their chariots back into the sanctum sanctorum of the Shree Jagannath Temple, marking the end of their nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple.