Puri, Jun 11: The sacred Snana Purnima rituals commenced today at the Shree Jagannath Temple, marking the ceremonial beginning of the Rath Yatra 2025.

Ahead of the sacred bathing ritual, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi arrived in Puri to witness the divine event and seek blessings from Lord Jagannath, and his siblings.

The Pahandi ritual, where the deities are carried from the sanctum to the Snana Mandap, was performed amidst the rhythmic beats of temple drums and devotional chants. Devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the grand procession, which symbolizes the transition of the deities to the bathing altar.

At the Snana Mandap, the deities will then be bathed with 108 pitchers of sanctified water, drawn from the temple’s Golden Well. This ritual is believed to purify the deities and prepare them for the upcoming Rath Yatra. Following the bath, the deities will be adorned in the Hati Besha, resembling Lord Ganesha.

CM Mohan Charan Majhi also reviewed the arrangements for the event, ensuring smooth crowd management and security measures. Officials have deployed advanced monitoring systems to facilitate a seamless experience for devotees.

The Mangala Arati, a sacred prayer ritual, will be performed at the Snana Bedi, marking the completion of the bathing ceremony. After this, the deities will enter a 15-day isolation period known as Anasara, during which they are believed to recover before embarking on their grand chariot journey.

With the successful completion of Snana Purnima, anticipation builds for the Rath Yatra, scheduled to take place on June 27, 2025.

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