Acclaimed sand sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik on Monday said that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid a visit to his Puri residence on the auspicious occasion of Deva Snana Purnima, during which the duo held talks on scaling up the promotion of the state’s rich art and cultural legacy.
Pattnaik noted that the Chief Minister first went to seek blessings from Lord Jagannath at the main temple before arriving at his home, where he congratulated the artist for becoming the first Indian to clinch the prestigious Russian Grand Sand Master Cup.
“Today marks Devasnana Purnima, a deeply spiritual day dedicated to Lord Jagannath that brings a massive influx of local and pilgrims from abroad to Puri… It was a true honour for me that, by divine grace, CM Mohan Charan Majhi came to seek the Lord’s blessings on this sacred holiday and subsequently took the time to visit my household,” Pattnaik said.
He said that the Chief Minister had previously promised him a to personally visit his residence following the artist’s victorious return from the international tournament in Russia.
“When I returned from Russia after becoming the first Indian to win the Russian Grand Sand Master Cup, the CM had said he would personally come to my home to congratulate me on this major achievement for the country… He viewed the cup and medal I had won, as well as all the other awards I had received over the years, and offered immense encouragement. He also interacted with my family,” Pattnaik said.
According to the sand master, the Chief Minister also utilised the meeting to brain-storm strategic pathways for giving Odisha’s traditional arts and regional culture a broader global platform.
Deva Snana Purnima stands as the traditional bathing day for the holy trinity, during which they undergo a grand ritualistic bath with 108 pots of consecrated sanctified water. Following this ceremony, the deities are said to enter a recovery phase and are kept away from public sight during the private ‘Anasara’ fortnight before re-emerging for the iconic Rath Yatra.
Thousands of worshippers gathered to witness the sacred bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, marking a centuries-old tradition.
The festival marks the ceremonial bathing of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra in 108 pots of water in a sacred ritual.
Devotees from various parts of the country made the journey to be present for the holy event. The Snana Yatra takes place annually on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Jyeshtha, which typically aligns with June. The day carries immense religious significance, as it is widely celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Jagannath.
The deities are taken out in a grand procession from the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple to the Snana Mandap, an elevated platform where the bathing ritual takes place.
Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, are brought out from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snana Mandap, a special bathing platform. On this day, the deities undergo a ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of sacred water.
