Puri, Sept 9: A Mahasnana, or holy bath, was conducted for the deities at the Srimandira, the renowned Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, today following an unscheduled ritual. The bath was deemed necessary after spittle was found near the ‘Bhitara Katha’ inside the temple, compromising the sanctity of the sacred premises.

Reports suggest that the spitting incident near the Bhitara Katha was noticed earlier today, prompting the immediate suspension of the ongoing darshan of the deities. In response, the temple authorities initiated the Mahasnana process to restore the purity of the temple and its deities.

According to temple customs, any incident involving uncleanliness—such as bleeding or vomiting—requires the cessation of ongoing rituals. A Mahasnana is then performed to maintain the spiritual cleanliness and sanctity of the temple, ensuring the deities are restored to their divine purity.