Puri, Dec 11: The annual three-day Deba Dipabali festival began at Puri Sri Jagannath temple today.
It falls on Krushnapaksha Chaturdashi (the 14th day of the dark fortnight) in the month of Margashira and continues on Amavasya (no moon day) and Pratipada (the day following no-moon day).
During this festival, Lord Jagannath performs shraddha (Admiration) and offers pinda (offerings) to his ancestors.
Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra offer pinda and diyas to goddess Aditi and Kashyap on the first day; Kaushalya and King Dasarath on the second and Devaki Vasudev, Nanda Yashoda, King Indradyumna and his queen Gundicha Devi on the third day.
Servitors offer special offerings and deities are dressed in all-white Shradha Besha with Tadagi, Haridamali, Sun, Moon, and other jewelries. Mahadipa- a big diya, is lifted atop the temple in the evening by the servitors.
During the period, the devotees in Puri will lit diyas at their homes to celebrate Deba Dipabali.
Sources said, one lakh diyas will be lit on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) by the members of Odisha International Centre and Chhatisha Nijog.
