Puri, July 14: Puri is set to witness the sacred ‘Nabajaubana Darshan’ of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra today after the deities remained in ‘Anasara’ for 15 days following the Snana Purnima rituals. The Nabajoubana Darshan marks the first public appearance of the deities after they are believed to have regained their youthful form.

The day will begin with the traditional Khadi Prasad Bije and Banakalagi Niti rituals. As part of the Khadi Prasad Bije ceremony, the sacred offering prepared for the deities will be carried in a ceremonial procession, accompanied by gongs, umbrellas and traditional kahali trumpets, to the Srinaar of the Gajapati Maharaja. In keeping with temple tradition, the Daitapati and Dattamahapatra servitors will present the Khadi Prasad on a silver platter to the Gajapati Maharaja, the foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath.

During the Banakalagi Niti, the Dattamahapatra servitors will decorate the faces of the deities using traditional natural pigments and aromatic substances, including hingula, haritala, kasturi and camphor. Following the completion of the ritual, the deities will appear before devotees in their rejuvenated Nabajaubana form.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Paramanik (ticketed) Darshan will be held from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, followed by general darshan from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The darshan will commence after the completion of Mangala Alati and Abakasha Niti.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for the occasion. A large contingent of police personnel, along with senior officers, has been deployed in and around the temple to ensure the smooth conduct of rituals, maintain crowd discipline and facilitate the safe movement of devotees.