Puri, Jan 3: On the sacred occasion of Pousha Purnima today, the Pusya Abhishek of Lord Jagannath was ceremoniously held at the Srimandir. Yesterday, on the auspicious day of Chaturdashi, a special ritual was performed in the temple’s sanctum, where 108 pots of water mixed with ghee and sandalwood paste were used for the ritualistic bathing of the Lord. After this, a special procession was held with offerings from the Lord’s altar, where the devotees received divine blessings.

Following the rituals at the Jagannath temple, a procession took place to the Lakshmi Temple, where Goddess Lakshmi was honored with sacred prayers and offerings. This was followed by the ceremonial adornment of the Lord with golden ornaments, including a crown placed on his head, a golden foot ornament, and other divine accessories.

The Lord was beautifully dressed in royal attire, with multiple golden garlands adorning his hands, neck, and chest. He was magnificently adorned with a combination of various sacred ornaments, including a Haridha mala, Bahada mala, and various other precious ornaments. This divine display, witnessing Lord Jagannath's regal form, offered a sense of spiritual fulfillment to countless devotees who gathered for the darshan of the deity.

In the evening, the grand Aarti ceremony (Mahodhhi Aarti) is scheduled to take place, where religious scholars and saints, including the world-renowned Shankaracharya, Nishchalananda Saraswati, along with the Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Dev, will participate in the divine event. The ceremony will be a gathering of spiritual leaders from all corners of India, who will share sacred knowledge and divine messages, enlightening the devotees with spiritual wisdom.