PURI (Odisha), May 16 : “Niladri Mahodaya,” the foundation day of Sri Jagannath Temple, was observed in traditional style as per the prescribed guidelines for the ritual in the Srimandir on Wednesday.
The festival continued late into the night until the representative idols of Lord Jagannath, Madanmohan, Bhudevi, and Sridevi returned to the temple after participating in the Chandan Yatra at the Narendra Tank.
According to the “Madala Panji” prescription, on this day, on Astami Tithi, the temple was consecrated by pundits, and the idols of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were installed on the Ratnasimhasan. This day is one of the twelve important festivals of the temple.
Early on Wednesday, priests performed Mangal Arati, followed by Tadap Lagi, Abakash, and Rosa Homa. Then, after Sakal Dhupa (breakfast), the deities were given a bath with 108 pitchers of aromatic water and dressed in sandalwood paste by the Puspalak servitors.
The 108 pitchers of water, drawn from wells inside the Srimandir, were consecrated by the priests and then brought to the sanctum sanctorum by a separate set of servitors in a procession. Afterwards, another set of servitors performed a bathing ceremony. Soon after the bath, the deities were dressed in new clothing.
Ghantachhata Bhog, Jata Bhog, and Madhyahna Dhupa (lunch) were offered to the deities.
Thereafter, a complex set of rituals, including offering sacrifices to the Dasa Digapal (lords of directions) and other deities, was performed. These rituals continued late into the night until the representative idols of Lord Jagannath, Madanmohan, Bhudevi, and Sridevi returned to the temple after participating in the Chandan Yatra at the Narendra Tank.
A large number of devotees thronged the temple to witness the ritual. (UNI)
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