Puri, June 11: The holy town of Puri witnessed thousands of devotees gather at the Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Snana Yatra, also known as Deva Snana Purnima, one of the most important festivals in the temple's religious calendar.
Celebrated on the full moon day of Jyestha, this sacred festival is believed to mark the birthday of Lord Jagannath. It is also the first time in the year when the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum for public viewing.
The deities are taken out in a traditional procession called Dhadi Pahandi to the Snana Bedi (bathing platform). Before this, they are dressed in special wooden armour called Senapatta to support them during the ceremonial movement.
On the Snana Bedi, several important rituals are performed. These include Mangala Alati, Surya Puja, and Dwarapala Puja, followed by the sacred bath using 108 pots of scented water drawn from the Suna Kua or Golden Well, located near the temple’s north gate. This water is used only once a year and fetched by special temple servitors called Suaras and Mahasuaras, who follow age-old purification rituals, even covering their mouths to prevent contamination.
Watch Snana Yatra Live From Puri
During the snana ritual, each deity is bathed with a specific number of pots: 35 for Lord Jagannath, 33 for Lord Balabhadra, 22 for Devi Subhadra, and 18 for Lord Sudarshan. The ritual is accompanied by Vedic chants, music, and the blowing of conch shells.
One of the most anticipated parts of the celebration is the ‘Hati Besha’ or ‘Gajanana Besha’, where Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed to resemble Lord Ganesha, while Devi Subhadra appears in Padma Besha (lotus attire). This unique tradition is said to have originated in the 15th century, inspired by a devotee named Pandit Ganapati Bhatt, who had a vision of Lord Jagannath as Ganesha.
After the bathing and attire rituals, Gajapati King Dibyasingha Deb, the ceremonial head of the temple, performs the Chhera Panhara ritual, sweeping the Snana Bedi with a golden broom as a mark of humility and devotion.
The Snana Yatra is not only a spiritual event but also a display of Odisha’s rich cultural traditions, continuing to captivate devotees and visitors with its deep symbolism and grandeur every year.
