Puri, Aug 16: The sacred festival of Nanda Utsav will be celebrated at the Jagannath Temple in Puri today, Saturday, marking the joyous continuation of Janmashtami festivities.
On Friday midnight, devotees across Odisha observed Janmashtami, commemorating the divine birth of Lord Krishna, when it is believed that the deity descended from his heavenly abode to the earthly realm.
As per tradition, the Nanda Utsav rituals at the Jagannath Temple will commence in the evening. The Mahajan Sevayats will ceremonially bring the idols of Ramakrishna and Madanmohan from the southern side of the temple and seat them on the Jagmohan Doli (swing).
Following the sacred Mailam and other customary rites, Shathi and Markandi Puja will be performed in the divine presence of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Subhadra.
After the Mangal Aarati and Bandapana, the idol of Goddess Durga will be brought from the Bhandaraghara and placed beside Ramakrishna and Madanmohan on the swing. Subsequently, the deities will be carefully brought down and laid to rest on a bed.
The rituals will then continue near the Snana Mandap, where the symbolic announcement of the birth of a son will be made signifying the arrival of Lord Sri Krishna.
The celebration of Nanda Utsav thus carries deep spiritual and cultural significance, echoing the divine joy of Krishna’s birth within the sacred precincts of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
