By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/PURI: Amid COVID-19 restrictions and sans Devotees, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on Thursday took holy shower at the Snana Mandap of the Srimandir here on the sacred occasion of Deva Snana Purnima, also known as Jyestha Purnima. The servitors carried out the Snana Jatra rituals of the deities while the Bada Danda wore a deserted look as congregation of devotees has been prohibited by the state government in view of the COVID-19 situation.
Meanwhile, contradictory media reports in sections of media on Snana Yatra today has irked SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Krishan Kumar, who has been not missing a single stone unturned to make the Annual Rath Yatra a grand success. The reaction of Dr Kumar, came following a wrong report in The Logical Indian on Lord Jagannath’s Snana Yatra or Bathing Ceremony in Puri.
“I have come across reportage of @LogicalIndians which is not based on facts. My response is below. Hope the post is revisited. @SJTA_Puri,”SJTA Chief Administrator Krishan Kumar tweeted @Krishan_Kumar09.
“There were no devotees at Snana Yatra Today. Only sevaks participated. All sevaks were tested for COVID-19 and only those with negative reports participated.They were also given vaccination on priority by @HFWOdisha. I wish@LogicalIndians checked with anyone from @SJTA_Puri or followed mainstream media which had extensively covered the details of arrangements,”Dr Kumar, an IAS officer of 2002 batch , also State’s Works Secretary, said in his clarification.
“Age old Niti-Kanti required presence of many sevayats at Snana Bedi in @JagannathaDhaam. Keeping this in mind all precautions were taken. All such facts should have been considered before making out of context comments. These definitely needs a revist,”Dr Kumar added.
In the morning, the idols were brought out from Ratna Bedi (inner sanctum of the temple) to the Snana Mandap by the temple servitors in Pahandi, a traditional procession.
As per rituals, the deities were accorded a bath with 108 pitchers of aromatic water by a group of servitors. While the servitors poured 35 pots of water on Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra had shower with 33 pots of water, Devi Subhadra with 22 pots of water and Lord Sudarshan took bath with 18 pots of water.
After the ritualistic bath, it is believed that the deities suffer from cold and fever. The idols are then kept away from public view for fifteen days at Anasara Ghara for treatment for which specific rituals are performed. This period of isolation is called Anasara, which means improper time for worship.
On the 16th day, the idols in their youthful forms become ready for public view. The first appearance of the deities after the bathing festival is called Netrotsaba or Naba Jaubana Darshan.
