Bhubaneswar, June 25: The Puri district administration and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) have completed elaborate preparations for the sacred Nabajouban Darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, scheduled to take place on Thursday in the holy town of Puri.
With lakhs of devotees expected to flock to the pilgrimage city for a glimpse of the Holy Trinity, the administration has enforced strict security arrangements to ensure a smooth and safe darshan experience. The town is already witnessing a steady influx of pilgrims ahead of the significant spiritual event.
Nabajouban Darshan marks the reappearance of the deities in their rejuvenated, youthful forms after a 14-day period of ritual seclusion known as Anasara. Following the grand Snana Yatra or ceremonial bathing festival, the deities are believed to fall ill and are treated with traditional Panchakarma therapies by temple servitors.
Once they recover, the deities undergo the sacred Banakalagi or Srikumkha Sringara ritual, wherein their divine features are repainted using natural herbal pigments like Hingula (red), Haritala (yellow), Kasturi (musk), Keshar (saffron), and Kaitha (wood apple gum). This intricate process is carried out secretly by the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors under the guidance of the ancient palm-leaf manuscript Banaka Pothi.
Every detail—from the painting of eyes and eyebrows to the final dotting of the pupils—is done with great devotion, symbolizing the deities’ full recovery and spiritual rejuvenation.
The culmination of this transformation is revealed during Nabajouban Darshan, also known as Netra Utsav, when the deities are presented to the devotees in their vibrant, youthful glory. The emotional and spiritual connection shared during this moment is deeply cherished by devotees, serving as a prelude to the grand Rath Yatra.
This divine darshan sets the stage for the world-famous chariot festival, where Lord Jagannath, along with His siblings, journeys to the Gundicha Temple on elaborately decorated chariots, continuing the age-old traditions that define the cultural and spiritual fabric of Odisha.
