Puri, Feb 26: The six-day Dola Utsav, a grand Holi celebration, kicked off on Thursday with traditional rituals at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. The festival, which marks the beginning of the Holi celebrations, is observed from "Phagu Dashami," the tenth day of the Phalguna month in the Odia calendar, and concludes on the day of Holi.
The festivities began with the Madhyanha Dhupa and Mailama rituals, setting the tone for the vibrant celebration. During these six days, the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are dressed in a special attire known as the "Chacheri Besha." The deities are also adorned with gold jewelry for the occasion. A special offering called "Chachari Bhog" is presented to them each day throughout the festival.
After receiving the "Agyanmala" (permission from the Lord), the moving idols of Dolagobinda, representing Lord Jagannath, along with Devi Lakshmi and Devi Saraswati, are carried in a procession to the “Dola Bedi” at the Shri Jagannath Ballav Mutt, where additional rituals are performed. The deities are placed on a swing and worshipped, symbolizing a key part of the celebrations.
Thousands of devotees from across the state flock to the temple during Dola Utsav to seek blessings and witness the elaborate ceremonies. Ahead of the festival, the temple administration organized the Chhatisa Niyoga meeting on Monday to make arrangements for the large number of visitors expected at the temple during this auspicious event.
