According to the Hindu calendar, today is the full moon of Jyeshtha month. On this day, Jyeshtha Purnima is celebrated in a very unique way in Odisha, where the tradition of Mahasnan Yatra of the Lord is performed in the Jagannath temple of Puri. It is called Dev Snan Purnima in Odisha. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reached Odisha to see the great bath of Puri. Lakhs of people reached Jagannath temple to have darshan of the Lord. On the day of Dev Snan Purnima, apart from Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra are also bathed. Also, on this day many devotees are celebrating the festival of bathing of God by playing drums during the yatra.
This year the Snan Yatra started at 5.15 am. The Yatra started with the traditional Pahandi i.e. procession of the Gods and Goddesses, after which the Yatra concluded by 8 in the morning. Dharmendra Pradhan was also present during the visit. According to Skanda Purana, the tradition of bathing the gods was started by King Indradyumna in the 12th century. Since then, the tradition of bathing in God is going on every year in the month of Jyeshtha.
On Jyeshtha Purnima, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are bathed by filling water in 108 pots. In this, Lord Jagannath is bathed with water from 35 urns, while Lord Balabhadra is bathed with water from 33 urns. Apart from this, Goddess Subhadra is bathed with water from 22 pots. After this, Sudarshan Chakra is bathed with the water from the remaining 18 Kalash. According to religious belief, the devotee who participates in Mahasnan Yatra gets freedom from diseases and sorrows.
After the great bath, a special type of makeup is done to the Gods and Goddesses. On this day Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are decorated in Gaj attire. After this the devotees worship the gods and goddesses. After the Mahasnan, the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath temple is closed, during which no devotee can have darshan of the Lord.
According to Sanatan religious belief, Lord Jagannath’s health deteriorates after taking a great bath. Therefore, the sanctum sanctorum is closed to give rest to the God. During this period no devotee can have darshan of God. After about two weeks the doors of the sanctum sanctorum are opened again.
