Puri, June 29: The holy town of Puri is all set to witness the annual ‘Snana Yatra’ of Lord Jagannath today, with elaborate arrangements made for the sacred bathing ceremony and the rare ‘Hati Besha (Gajanana Besha)’ of the deities. The ceremonial ‘Pahandi’ procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Sudarshan from the Ratna Singhasan to the Snana Mandap began early in the morning.
Temple authorities have completed all preparations, with emphasis on conducting every ritual according to the prescribed schedule. The ‘Pahandi Bije’ commenced at 5 a.m, while the Jala Bije, puja and Snana rituals are scheduled between 12 noon and 2 p.m. The deities will adorn the rare Hati Besha between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., followed by Sahan Mela from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The remaining rituals, including Hati Besha Mailam, Pushpanjali, Dora Lagi, Bahuda Pahandi, and Suna Chita with Rahurekha Mailam, will continue till the early hours of Tuesday.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the festival, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has coordinated with servitors to complete all rituals on time. Devotees will enter through the Singhadwara for darshan at the Snana Mandap and exit through the remaining three gates. Those holding Parimanik tickets will be allowed entry through the temple's South Gate.
The Puri Police has put in place extensive security arrangements to manage the expected surge in devotees. The entire temple town has been brought under a multi-layered security blanket, with barricades erected from Bada Danda Market Chhak to the Singhadwara to regulate the movement of pilgrims.
Special measures have also been taken to protect devotees from the prevailing heat and humidity. Temporary shelters, drinking water facilities and continuous water sprinkling have been arranged along the route. Ambulances and fire service personnel have been deployed to provide immediate medical assistance and transport devotees to hospitals in case of any emergency.
Thousands of devotees from across the country are expected to gather in Puri to witness the divine Snana Yatra and the rare Hati Besha, one of the most significant rituals in the annual calendar of Lord Jagannath.
