Puri, June 11: On holy occasion of Deba Snana Purnima today, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and participated in the Pahandi rituals.
This was CM Majhi’s first visit to the ceremonial event as Chief Minister and took place ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival.
CM Majhi spoke to the media persons and said, “I saw Mahaprabhu’s Pahandi for the first time today. I had the chance to see Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. I pray that the upcoming Rath Yatra goes smoothly and peacefully, and that all devotees get to see the Deities. The temple staff and helpers are doing a great job, and I am sure this year’s festival will be trouble-free.”
The Pahandi rituals are a significant ceremony, during which the three deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—are carried in a special procession from the main temple to the Snana Mandap, which is the bathing altar.
The procession is grand and is filled with chanting, sounds of gongs, and blowing of conch shells. Thousands of devotees come to watch and take part in the event.
During the Snana ritual, each deity is bathed with a specific number of pots: 35 for Lord Jagannath, 33 for Lord Balabhadra, 22 for Devi Subhadra, and 18 for Lord Sudarshan. The ritual is accompanied by Vedic chants, music, and the blowing of conch shells.
One of the most anticipated parts of the celebration is the ‘Hati Besha’ or ‘Gajanana Besha’, where Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed to resemble Lord Ganesha, while Devi Subhadra appears in Padma Besha (lotus attire). This unique tradition is said to have originated in the 15th century, inspired by a devotee named Pandit Ganapati Bhatt, who had a vision of Lord Jagannath as Ganesha.
