Bhubaneswar, June 11: The sacred festival of Devasnana Purnima was observed with great devotion and traditional fervor at Jagannath temples across Odisha, including Neelagiri, Baudh, Nabarangpur, Sorada, and Gopalpur.
At Neelagiri, known as the "Third Shreekhetra," royal heir Janmajaya Harichandan led the final rituals before the divine bathing of the deities with 108 pots of herb-infused water. Thousands gathered to receive the sacred water, believed to have healing powers.
In Baudh’s Bausuni Chhak, Brahmins brought water from the Mahanadi River for the Snana ceremony, led by head priest Gobardhan Dash. Local cultural groups also participated.
The Nabarangpur Jagannath Temple conducted rituals under royal priest Narasingha Tripathy’s guidance, with water sourced from the Indravati River and nearby wells. Distinguished officials, including District Collector Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, attended the event.
At Sorada, rituals followed tradition with water fetched from the Rushikulya River. Raja Dr. Deb Dutta Singh Deo performed royal rites, and the deities appeared in Gajanana Vesha.
The Gopalpur temple saw a large gathering as priests bathed the deities with aromatic water, supported by local sevayats and the temple committee.
Devasnana Purnima, marking the purification of the deities ahead of Rath Yatra, continues to unify Odisha’s diverse communities in shared faith and celebration.
