Puri, Feb 24: A Chhatisa Nijog meeting will be held today at the SJTA office to discuss the guidelines for the upcoming Dol Purnima and Holi celebrations. The meeting will also address the specific rituals for Lord Jagannath on these occasions, considering that a lunar eclipse will occur on Dol Purnima. The discussions will focus on following a set timetable for the observance of rituals, especially with the eclipse.

The meeting will be chaired by the Chief Administrator, and the schedule for the rituals will be presented in detail. As per the information, a partial lunar eclipse will occur on Dol Purnima, which will touch Puri at 3:20 pm. The eclipse will end at 6:47 pm. Hence, due to the eclipse, all rituals will be restricted from sunrise until after the eclipse ends. Therefore, the approved rituals must be followed, particularly before sunrise, i.e., during early morning hours.

On this day, the special procession for Lord Jagannath, including the Rajaadhiraja attire and the Nabhikata Mandap, will take place with a ceremonial bath at Dolabedi. Prior to the commencement of the ceremonies, the administration will announce the schedule and guidelines for the temple priests and staff. A detailed discussion on these guidelines will be held during the Chhatisa Nijog meeting and the subcommittee meetings, where the final timetable will be confirmed by the temple authorities.