By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: Lord Balabhadra being the eldest was the first to arrive on Snana Bedi followed by Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath towing in the end. Similar ritual of Dhadi Pahandi was observed for the trio and Lord Sudarshan on the occasion of Snana Purnima.
The ‘Chera Pahanra’ is scheduled to be conducted at 12:15 pm which will be followed by the much-awaited ‘Hathi Besha’ from 12:45 pm followed by Bahuda Pahandi.
Earlier, the ‘Pahandi Bije’ of the Holy Trinity was completed. Lord Jagannath & his divine siblings were placed on Snana Mandap after Dhadi Pahandi for the grand bathing rituals.
Lord Sudarshan reaches the Snana Bedi first followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
The deities are bathed with 108 pots of ritually purified water drawn from the northern well of the temple to the accompaniment of religious incantations. The rituals began after 3:30 am starting with Mangalaparna. Later, the deities were ushered from Ratna Singhasan to Snana Bedi in Dhadi Pahandi.
Additional DG (Law and Order) RK Sharma, IG Central Range Narasingha Bhol , SP Puri Vishal Singh and other senior officers were supervising security measures.
3 Commandants, 11 Additional SPs, DCs, 21 DSPs-ACs, 50 Inspectors, 270 SI, ASI rank officers, 1000 Constable and HG with 52 platoons of forces have been deployed for the Snana Purnima.
Special arrangements have been made for hassle free darshan of devotees , smooth traffic regulation, facilitation of pilgrims and safety of tourists at sea beach and other impotent places, official sources said.
