Puri, Jun 30: Thousands of devotees thronged the Alarnath temple at Brahmagiri in Odisha's Puri district on Tuesday to have the sacred Anabasara Darshan of Lord Alarnath Deb, marking the start of a 15-day spiritual celebration ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra in Puri.

The day began with the Dwaraphita ritual at 4 AM, followed by Mangala Alati, Avakash, Anasara Besha, and Bahlabh Niti. By 6:30 AM, the temple doors opened for the public, who gathered in large numbers to glimpse the deity in his rare Anabasara attire. The sight of Lord Alarnath in Shilabrhma form deeply moved devotees, as chants of “Jai Jagannath, Jai Alarnath” echoed across the temple precincts.

Temple authorities, in coordination with sevayats, ensured smooth darshan through barricaded pathways. Devotees relished the traditional khiri prasad at Anand Bazaar after the midday rituals, while cultural performances featuring jhanj, mrudanga, and devotional songs added to the festive atmosphere.

According to tradition, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are believed to fall ill after being bathed with 108 pitchers of holy water on Snana Purnima. They remain in isolation in the Anasar Ghar for treatment by 'Raj Vaidya' (royal physician), and devotees are barred from darshan. During this time, Lord Jagannath is believed to manifest in Lord Alarnath at Brahmagiri, about 25 km from Puri.

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Meanwhile, the District administration has made elaborate security arrangements and deployed 10 platoons of police, 70 officers, and plainclothes personnel. Over 50 CCTV cameras have been installed, while strict traffic regulations and designated parking zones were enforced to manage the influx of pilgrims.