Puri: Deba Snana Purnima festival of of Lord Jagannath, his sibling deities and Chakraraj Sudarshan began at Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri today with participation of a minimum number of servitors and strict adherence to social distancing norms.
The bathing rituals of the holy trinity began. In all, Lord Balabhadra will be bathed with 33 pots of water, Lord Jagannath with 35, Goddess Subhadra with 22 and Lord Sudarshan with 18 pots. The holy water is prepared using Chua, Agura, Chandan and purified with Sodasa Upachara.
It is being held the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha is the ‘Devasnan Purnima’ or ‘Snana Yatra’.
Late in the night, the deities will be escorted to Anasar Ghar (asylum for the sick) and recline in beds supposedly suffering from fever due to the elaborate bath.
During these 14 day, the ailing deities will be offered only fruits and water, mixed with cheese and ‘Dasamula’ (herbal) medicines while Daitapati Sevayats will perform secret rituals to cure them.
After recuperating, they will appear in Nabajoubana Besha (youthful vigour) on Amabasya a day prior to the Rath Yatra.
After ‘Pahandi’ (procession) and the ceremonial bath of the sibling deities, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb was scheduled to performed ‘Chherapahanra’ ritual on the Snana Mandap.
Puri district administration has invoked Section 144 of CrPC in the Pilgrim City to avoid congregation of people.
Security has been tightened in the Temple city.A total of 38 platoons of police have been deployed to maintain the law and order during the festival. Besides, two commandants, six ASPs, 16 DSPs and 44 Inspectors have been deployed in the town and the policemen are on high alert.
CCTV cameras have been installed near the areas of the Snana Mandap (bathing altar), key places on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) and other areas of the town” said DIG Central Range Ashish Kumar Singh
